COMPARISON OF EFFICACY OF ALOE VERA MOUTHWASH WITH TRIAMCINOLONE ACETONIDE 0.1% ON ORAL LICHEN PLANUS

Abstract

Background; Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a relatively common inflammatory mucocutaneous disorder that frequently involves the oral mucosa. The exact etiology is uncertain, but the immunological system is believed to play a significant role in it. It has a protracted clinical course despite various available treatment modalities. The age of onset is usually between 3^rd and 6^th decade of life and it is commonly seen in Asian population. The prevalence of OLP is 1-2% in the general population and it is predominantly seen in females. Objective: To compare the efficacy  of Aloe Vera Mouthwash With Triamcinolone Acetonide 0.1% on Oral Lichen Planus. Material and methods: Patients (n=86) with symptomatic oral lichen planus coming in outpatient department of General Medicine department were included in this study. After determining eligibility and obtaining consent, to guarantee blinding, the patients were randomly divided to an AV mouthwash group and a TA group by draws methods. The patients in the AV group were asked to rinse the mouth with 2 tablespoons of AV mouthwash for 2 minutes, 4 times a day and expectorate. The patients in the TA group were instructed to apply a thin layer of triamcinolone acetonide 0.1% paste on the oral lesions, 4 times daily. The treatment period for both groups were 3 months. Patients were evaluated on days 8, 16 and after completing the course of treatment (visit 1–3). Efficacy was observed after 2 months (last follow up). The data was entered and analyzed using computer program SPSS-18. Results; Of these 86 study cases, 33 (38.4%) were male patients while 53 (61.6%) were female patients. Mean age of our study cases was noted to be 40.90 ± 3.66 years (with minimum age was 32 years while maximum age was noted to be 45 years). Reticular pattern of OLP was noted in 47 (54.7%) and plaque in 39 (45.3%) our study cases. Most of the patients had multiple site involvement such as buccal mucosa was involved in 70 (81.4%), tongue involvement in 29 (33.7%) of our study cases. Thirty eight (44.2%) belonged to rural areas while 48 (55.8%) from urban areas. Mean disease duration was noted to be 11.14 ± 4.15 months (with minimum disease duration was 5 months while maximum disease duration was 18 months). Efficacy was noted in 49 (57%) of our study cases while efficacy was noted in 31 (72.1%) patients in group A while in 18 (27.9%) in group B (p=0.009). Conclusion; Our study results support the use of aloe vera mouthwash for the treatment of oral lichen planus instead of Triamceonolone acetonide (0.1%). Aloe Vera mouthwash is safe, effective and reliable substitute of Triamceonolone acetonide (0.1%) which can be applied to all types of oral lichen planus (OLP) presentations and any site affected in oral cavity. This provides cost effective, efficient and safe mode of treatment as it does not involve any side effect which is helpful for the suffering patients.

Keywords; Oral lichen planu, Aloe vera, Triamcenolone acetonide.