The average clinical score among those taking pimecrolimus decreased from 6.83 at baseline to 3.33 at day 28 of the study, while scores for the placebo group decreased from 4.67 to 3.33. The treatment was well tolerated in both groups with few adverse effects. However, all patients who improved during the trial had a relapse within a month following treatment.
"According to the present data, 1 percent pimecrolimus cream seems to be an effective and well-tolerated treatment for oral erosive lichen planus," the authors write. "Further studies on a larger population with long-term follow-up and monitoring of the blood level of pimecrolimus are required to better evaluate its usefulness and safety compared with other therapeutic modalities."
(Arch Dermatol. 2007;143:463-470, 472-476. Available pre-embargo to the media at www.jamamedia.org.)
Editors Note: Please see the articles for additional information, including other authors, author contributions and affiliations, financial disclosures, funding and support, etc.
Editorial: Dermatologists Play Important Role in Treating Mouth Ulcers
For several reasons, dermatologists are ideally situated to diagnose and treat patients with recurrent apthous stomatitis, oral erosive lichen planus and other causes of mouth ulcers, write Alison Bruce, M.D., and Roy S. Rogers III, M.D., of the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn., in an accompanying editorial.
First, dermatologists visual sophistication and their understanding of diseases that affect mucous membranes allow them to distinguish the different causes of mouth ulcers. In addition, many of the medications used to treat mouth ulcers are the same as those used to treat other dermatologic conditions, so dermatologists are comfortable prescribing them.
There is no one medication that will succe
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Contact: Martin H. Thornhill
M.Thornhill@Sheffield.ac.uk
JAMA and Archives Journals
16-Apr-2007