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Published on: April 21, 2012
Levamisole monotherapy for oral lichen planus
Tai Hyok Won1, Se Young Park, Bo Suk Kim
1Department of Dermatology, Wonkwang University School of Medicine, Iksan, Korea.
Annals of Dermatology
|June 5, 2010
Summary
Levamisole monotherapy offers a safe and effective treatment for chronic oral lichen planus (OLP), especially for patients unable to use steroids. This study shows significant lesion clearance and improvement in OLP symptoms.
Area of Science:
- Oral medicine
- Immunology
- Dermatology
Background:
- Chronic oral lichen planus (OLP) is treated with various drugs.
- Levamisole and low-dose prednisolone have shown success, but steroids are contraindicated for some patients with OLP due to underlying conditions like diabetes or hypertension.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy and safety of levamisole as a standalone treatment for chronic oral lichen planus (OLP).
Main Methods:
- Eleven patients diagnosed with OLP received levamisole (50 mg thrice daily for 3 consecutive days, followed by 4 days off) between 2005 and 2007.
Main Results:
- After 4 weeks, 2 of 11 patients achieved complete lesion clearance, with clinical improvement noted in 2 weeks. After 3 months, 5 patients experienced complete clearance. Mild itching was the only reported side effect, with no significant adverse events observed.
Conclusions:
- Levamisole monotherapy presents a viable and safe therapeutic option for managing chronic oral lichen planus (OLP), particularly for individuals who cannot tolerate corticosteroid treatments.
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