Photodynamic therapy for symptomatic oral lichen planus

Data sourcesMEDLINE/PubMed, Scopus and ISI Web of knowledge, from date of inception up to July 2017. Hand searching of the reference lists of the included studies was performed.Study selectionRandomised (RCT) and non-randomised (n-RCT) controlled trials and controlled and comparative studies were included in patients more than 18 years old diagnosed with symptomatic oral lichen planus, histopathologically confirmed, on the use of photodynamic therapy (PDT) compared with corticosteroids, published in English.Data extraction and synthesisTwo authors independently assessed for inclusion and performed quality assessment of the included studies following the CONSORT statement followed by the overall estimation of the risk of bias. Data extraction was also done independently by two authors. The primary outcome was the effect of PDT on pain and clinical improvement.ResultsFive studies were included: three RCTs and two n-RCTs having between eight and 30 participants. Two studies used diode laser and three used light emitting diode (LED) and the duration of the radiation ranged between 30 seconds to ten minutes. Each study used a unique corticosteroid agent. Three studies used methylene blue, one toluidine blue and one 5-aminolevulinic acid as photosensitiser agent. Follow-up was between one and three months. The authors presented the results as a narrative review.ConclusionsThe limited present evidence suggests that PDT is an effective treatment option for the management of OLP by reduction in pain, burning and decrease in the size of the lesions.