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Photodynamic treatment of oral lichen planus
Sigrid I Kvaal1, Even Angell-Petersen, Trond Warloe
1Institute of Clinical Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway. skvaal@odont.uio.no
Objectives:
The aim of this study was to examine the clinical behavior and response to topical methyl 5-aminolevulinate (MAL) photodynamic therapy (PDT) of oral lichen planus and to describe the buildup and biodistribution of photoactive porphyrins in normal and lichen planus-affected oral mucosa after MAL application.
Study Design:
The difference in clinical expression in 14 patients with buccal oral lichen planus was compared before and after treatment. MAL-induced photoactive porphyrins were monitored using noninvasive in situ fluorescence measurements. Microfluorometry was used to study the biodistribution.
Results:
The absorption and conversion of protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) in epithelial and subepithelial T cells was demonstrated in histologic sections. As a result of 1 treatment session, there was a significant improvement of oral lichen planus after 6 months (P = 0.02) and during a 4-year follow-up period.
Conclusions:
MAL is absorbed and converted to PpIX in T cells. Oral lichen planus treated with MAL-PDT showed lasting improvement after a single treatment.
