Hydroxychloroquine is effective in oral lichen planus: A multicenter, randomized, controlled trial
Yulang Xie, Hao Xu, Chunlei Li, Yufeng Wang, Rui Lü, Hong Hua, Guoyao Tang, Gang Zhou, Xin Jin, Qianhui Shang, Dan Pan, Chengli Zhang, Xiaobo Luo, Hongxia Dan, Xin Zeng, Yu Zhou, Qianming Chen
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: This study was aimed to evaluate the safety and benefit of short-term application of hydroxychloroquine in the management of atrophic/erosive/ulcerative oral lichen planus (OLP). METHODS: This multicenter, randomized, controlled, evaluator-blinded, prospective clinical trial was performed from October 1, 2019, to September 1, 2022. A total of 99 patients were randomized to receive systemic use of hydroxychloroquine (n = 50), or topical use of 0.05% dexamethasone (n = 49) for 4 weeks. The response to both treatment modalities was evaluated according to reticulation, hyperemic, and ulceration (RHU) score and visual analog scale (VAS) score. RESULTS: After 4 weeks of medication, both groups showed substantial reduction in RHU and VAS score (p < 0.05). In hydroxychloroquine group, the average of RHU score was reduced from 10.60 to 7.68 (dropped 27.49%), and the average of VAS score was reduced from 3.74 to 2.47 (dropped 34.09%). There were no differences between the two groups in reduction of RHU score and VAS score (p > 0.05). Single factor analysis found hyperemic area (p = 0.019) and erosive/ulcerative area (p = 0.024) had impacts on drug efficacy of hydroxychloroquine, and logistic regression revealed that no factors (p > 0.05) influenced its efficacy. CONCLUSION: These findings indicate hydroxychloroquine is a safe and effective agent in treating atrophic/erosive/ulcerative OLP.