What do systematic reviews say?

Triamcinolone plus systemic glucosamine sulphate (adjunctive) vs triamcinolone

• Interventions for treating oral lichen planus: corticosteroid therapies 2020 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Hesen 2017: no benefit of adjunctive systemic glucosamine sulphate for pain (low to very low certainty collectively)
  1 study
  GRADE not reported

Dexamethasone plus nystatin (adjunctive antifungal) vs dexamethasone

• Interventions for treating oral lichen planus: corticosteroid therapies 2020 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Wei 2003: no difference in clinical resolution between dexamethasone with vs without nystatin (very low-certainty)
  1 study
  Very low

Dexamethasone ointment vs Amlexanox paste

It is very uncertain whether dexamethasone ointment changes pain resolution compared with amlexanox paste (very low certainty).

• Interventions for treating oral lichen planus: corticosteroid therapies 2020 · Cochrane All outcomes
  RR 0.75 [0.34, 1.66]
  1 study · 36 participants
  Very low

Topical triamcinolone acetonide vs Hyaluronic acid gel

Topical triamcinolone acetonide showed no clear difference in pain (mean score) compared with hyaluronic acid gel; GRADE not reported.

• Interventions for treating oral lichen planus: corticosteroid therapies 2020 · Cochrane All outcomes
  MD -0.12 [-0.65, 0.41]
  1 study · 40 participants
  GRADE not reported

Integrated Chinese and Western medicine (incl. oral prednisone) vs Western medicine (incl. oral prednisone)

• Interventions for treating oral lichen planus: corticosteroid therapies 2020 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Xu 2002: benefit favouring integrated Chinese and Western medicine, just attained statistical significance (very low-certainty; high risk of bias)
  1 study
  Very low

Topical corticosteroids vs placebo

It is very uncertain whether topical corticosteroid changes clinical resolution compared with placebo (very low certainty).

• Interventions for treating oral lichen planus: corticosteroid therapies 2020 · Cochrane All outcomes

  8-9 weeks
  RR 6.00 [0.76, 47.58]
  2 studies · 72 participants
  Very low

Topical triamcinolone acetonide vs Topical tacrolimus

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Interventions for treating oral lichen planus: corticosteroid therapies 2020 · Cochrane All outcomes

  3-8 weeks
  Summary of findings 2: 'No data for this outcome' (triamcinolone vs tacrolimus, pain resolution)
  0 studies
  No studies found

Clobetasol propionate 0.025% microspheres vs Clobetasol propionate 0.025% ointment

Clobetasol propionate 0.025% microspheres led to higher pain (mean score) compared with clobetasol propionate 0.025% ointment; GRADE not reported.

• Interventions for treating oral lichen planus: corticosteroid therapies 2020 · Cochrane All outcomes
  MD 1.83 [0.80, 2.86]
  1 study · 45 participants
  GRADE not reported

Topical clobetasol propionate vs Topical ciclosporin

It is very uncertain whether topical clobetasol propionate changes clinical resolution compared with topical ciclosporin (very low certainty).

• Interventions for treating oral lichen planus: corticosteroid therapies 2020 · Cochrane All outcomes

  3-8 weeks
  RR 3.16 [1.00, 9.93]
  1 study · 39 participants
  Very low

Dexamethasone + nystatin + curcumin (adjunctive) vs Dexamethasone + nystatin + placebo

• Interventions for treating oral lichen planus: corticosteroid therapies 2020 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Amirchaghmaghi 2016: no adverse effects recorded in either group (low-certainty)
  1 study
  Low

Dexamethasone + nystatin + curcumin (adjunctive) vs Dexamethasone + nystatin + placebo

• Interventions for treating oral lichen planus: corticosteroid therapies 2020 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Amirchaghmaghi 2016: no benefit of adjunctive curcumin for pain (low to very low certainty collectively)
  1 study
  GRADE not reported

Clobetasol propionate ointment vs Clobetasol propionate 0.025% ointment

Clobetasol propionate 0.05% ointment showed no clear difference in clinical score compared with clobetasol propionate 0.025% ointment (low certainty).

• Interventions for treating oral lichen planus: corticosteroid therapies 2020 · Cochrane All outcomes
  MD 0.47 [-0.26, 1.20]
  1 study · 30 participants
  Low

Topical triamcinolone acetonide vs Topical ciclosporin

Topical triamcinolone acetonide showed no clear difference in pain (mean VAS score) compared with topical ciclosporin; GRADE not reported.

• Interventions for treating oral lichen planus: corticosteroid therapies 2020 · Cochrane All outcomes

  end of treatment
  MD -0.23 [-1.02, 0.56]
  1 study · 139 participants
  GRADE not reported

Clobetasol propionate ointment vs Clobetasol propionate 0.025% ointment

It is very uncertain whether clobetasol propionate 0.05% ointment changes clinical resolution compared with clobetasol propionate 0.025% ointment (very low certainty).

• Interventions for treating oral lichen planus: corticosteroid therapies 2020 · Cochrane All outcomes
  RR 1.14 [0.56, 2.35]
  1 study · 30 participants
  Very low

Topical clobetasol propionate vs Topical tacrolimus

It is very uncertain whether topical clobetasol propionate changes pain resolution compared with topical tacrolimus (very low certainty).

• Interventions for treating oral lichen planus: corticosteroid therapies 2020 · Cochrane All outcomes

  3-8 weeks
  RR 0.45 [0.24, 0.88]
  2 studies · 100 participants
  Very low

Intralesional betamethasone vs intralesional injections of triamcinolone acetonide

Intralesional betamethasone showed no clear difference in pain (mean score) compared with intralesional triamcinolone acetonide (low certainty).

• Interventions for treating oral lichen planus: corticosteroid therapies 2020 · Cochrane All outcomes
  MD -0.41 [-1.47, 0.65]
  1 study · 59 participants
  Low

Topical clobetasol propionate vs Topical ciclosporin

It is very uncertain whether topical clobetasol propionate changes adverse effects compared with topical ciclosporin (very low certainty).

• Interventions for treating oral lichen planus: corticosteroid therapies 2020 · Cochrane All outcomes

  3-8 weeks
  RR 6.32 [0.84, 47.69]
  1 study · 39 participants
  Very low

Systemic (oral) betamethasone vs Topical triamcinolone acetonide paste

It is very uncertain whether systemic (oral) betamethasone changes pain resolution compared with topical triamcinolone acetonide paste (very low certainty).

• Interventions for treating oral lichen planus: corticosteroid therapies 2020 · Cochrane All outcomes
  RR 1.04 [0.60, 1.80]
  1 study · 49 participants
  Very low

Clobetasol propionate plus miconazole (adjunctive antifungal) vs Clobetasol propionate plus placebo

• Interventions for treating oral lichen planus: corticosteroid therapies 2020 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Lodi 2007: no benefit of adjunctive miconazole for pain (low to very low certainty collectively)
  1 study
  GRADE not reported

Clobetasol propionate ointment vs Low-level laser therapy (LLLT)

It is very uncertain whether clobetasol propionate ointment changes pain (mean score) compared with low-level laser therapy (LLLT) (very low certainty).

• Interventions for treating oral lichen planus: corticosteroid therapies 2020 · Cochrane All outcomes
  MD 0.62 [0.42, 0.82]
  1 study · 42 participants
  Very low