PHOTOCHEMOTHERAPY OF ORAL LICHEN-PLANUS - A CONTROLLED-STUDY

Photochemotherapy with 8-methoxypsoralen and long-wave ultraviolet lig ht (PUVA) has become a useful alternative in dermatologic therapy. PUV A therapy has been successfully used in the treatment of severe psoria sis and cutaneous lichen planus. The aim of this investigation was to use PUVA in the treatment of oral lichen planus (OLP). Eighteen patien ts with long-standing, bilateral, and severe OLP of the buccal mucosa participated in the investigation. A dose of 0.6 mg/kg 8-methoxypsoral en was administered orally 2 hours before long-wave ultraviolet light irradiation was done. The patients were randomly assigned to treatment of the left or right side of the buccal mucosa. The irradiation thera py was given 12 times at intervals of 2 to 3 days, and the patients re ceived a total average dosage of 16.5 J/cm(2). The results showed that 13 treated sites compared with six control sites responded significan tly favorably to PUVA therapy. Two patients dropped out because of sid e effects that were similar to those seen after whole-body irradiation PUVA treatment. The follow up time was 12 months. The conclusion of t his study is that PUVA seems to be effective in the treatment of OLP a nd should be considered in severe cases of OLP.