What do systematic reviews say?

Colchicine (0.5 mg per day for 3 months) vs prednisolone

Colchicine (0.5 mg per day for 3 months) showed no clear difference in recurrence during treatment period compared with prednisolone (5 mg per day for 3 months); GRADE not reported.

• Systemic interventions for recurrent aphthous stomatitis (mouth ulcers) 2012 · Cochrane All outcomes

  3 months
  RR 1.30 [0.98, 1.71]
  1 study · 34 participants
  GRADE not reported

Topical clobetasol propionate 0.025% vs clobetasol cream 0.05% cream

Topical clobetasol propionate 0.025% showed no clear difference in partial response (partial or complete response) compared with topical clobetasol propionate 0.05%; GRADE not reported.

• Interventions for erosive lichen planus affecting mucosal sites 2012 · Cochrane All outcomes
  RR 1.18 [0.82, 1.70]
  1 study · 35 participants
  GRADE not reported

Tacrolimus 0.1% vs Topical clobetasol propionate 0.05% ointment

Topical tacrolimus 0.1% ointment showed no clear difference in reduction in target/mean lesion size compared with topical clobetasol propionate 0.05% ointment; GRADE not reported.

• Interventions for erosive lichen planus affecting mucosal sites 2012 · Cochrane All outcomes
  MD 0.00 [-1.09, 1.10]
  1 study · 29 participants
  GRADE not reported

Fluocinonide in adhesive base vs placebo

• Interventions for erosive lichen planus affecting mucosal sites 2012 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Table 3 (Side-effects). Voute 1993: no side-effects during the study and follow-up period.
  1 study · 27 participants
  GRADE not reported

Levamisole 50 mg three times per day for days 1 and 2 vs Levamisole 50 mg three times per day for day 1 and placebo for day 2 (lower dose)

• Systemic interventions for recurrent aphthous stomatitis (mouth ulcers) 2012 · Cochrane All outcomes

  16 weeks
  A trial at high risk of bias (Zissis 1983) compared two different dose regimens of levamisole (treatment 2 days per week for 16 weeks; a third group received placebo). There was inconsistency in the presentation of the…
  1 study
  GRADE not reported

Prednisone (oral, commencing 25 mg with phased dose reduction over 2 months) vs Montelukast (leukotriene receptor antagonist)

Prednisone (oral, commencing 25 mg with phased dose reduction over 2… showed no clear difference in total number of new lesions over 2-month treatment period compared with montelukast (leukotriene receptor antagonist); GRADE not reported.

• Systemic interventions for recurrent aphthous stomatitis (mouth ulcers) 2012 · Cochrane All outcomes

  2 months
  MD -0.30 [-0.90, 0.30]
  1 study · 40 participants
  GRADE not reported

Colchicine (0.5 mg three times per day) vs placebo

• Systemic interventions for recurrent aphthous stomatitis (mouth ulcers) 2012 · Cochrane All outcomes

  6 months
  There was a greater percentage of treatment interruptions in the colchicine group due to gastrointestinal adverse effects (Fisher's exact test P=0.009). The review noted potential evidence of harm at a dose of 1.5 mg…
  1 study · 43 participants
  GRADE not reported

Camel thorn (plant distillate) vs placebo

• Systemic interventions for recurrent aphthous stomatitis (mouth ulcers) 2012 · Cochrane All outcomes

  up to 14 days
  No evidence of drug side effects was observed.
  1 study · 93 participants
  GRADE not reported

LongoVital (herbal plus vitamin component) vs LongoVital (herbal component alone)

• Systemic interventions for recurrent aphthous stomatitis (mouth ulcers) 2012 · Cochrane All outcomes

  4 months
  Reported adverse events were minor and evenly distributed between the groups (Kolseth 2005).
  1 study · 40 participants
  GRADE not reported

Topical clobetasol propionate 0.025% vs clobetasol cream 0.05% cream

• Interventions for erosive lichen planus affecting mucosal sites 2012 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Table 3 (Side-effects). Carbone 2009: no side-effects.
  1 study · 35 participants
  GRADE not reported

Clobetasol-17-propionate 0.025% lipid-loaded microspheres vs Clobetasol propionate 0.025% ointment

Clobetasol-17-propionate 0.025% lipid-loaded microspheres led to lower pain reduction (VAS 0-100) compared with conventional 0.025% clobetasol lipophilic ointment in hydrophilic…; GRADE not reported.

• Interventions for erosive lichen planus affecting mucosal sites 2012 · Cochrane All outcomes
  MD -18.30 [-28.57, -8.03]
  1 study · 45 participants
  GRADE not reported

Prednisone (oral, commencing 25 mg with phased dose reduction over 2 months) vs Montelukast (leukotriene receptor antagonist)

• Systemic interventions for recurrent aphthous stomatitis (mouth ulcers) 2012 · Cochrane All outcomes

  2 months
  The study reported more drug-related adverse effects for those treated with prednisone than montelukast.
  1 study · 40 participants
  GRADE not reported

Leukotriene receptor antagonist vs placebo

Montelukast (leukotriene receptor antagonist; 10 mg daily for 1… led to lower pain (visual analogue scale) compared with placebo; GRADE not reported.

• Systemic interventions for recurrent aphthous stomatitis (mouth ulcers) 2012 · Cochrane All outcomes

  2 months
  MD -1.15 [-1.46, -0.84]
  1 study · 40 participants
  GRADE not reported

LongoVital (herbal component alone) vs placebo

• Systemic interventions for recurrent aphthous stomatitis (mouth ulcers) 2012 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Reported adverse events were minor and evenly distributed between the groups (Kolseth 2005). 'Very few and mostly harmless side-effects' were observed (Bratel 2005).
  2 studies
  GRADE not reported

Carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) spray vs Placebo (spray base without CMC / water)

• Interventions for the management of dry mouth: topical therapies 2011 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Donatsky 1982 (crossover, n=15, Sjogren's syndrome): CMC spray had a similar effect on oral dryness to the spray base, but was more effective than water. Paired crossover data not presented; effect size not estimable.
  1 study · 15 participants
  GRADE not reported

Camomile vs placebo

Camomile showed no clear difference in oral mucositis (any severity) compared with placebo; GRADE not reported.

• Interventions for preventing oral mucositis for patients with cancer receiving treatment 2011 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Median 28 days
  RR 0.89 [0.62, 1.27]
  1 study · 164 participants
  GRADE not reported

Indigo wood root vs saline placebo

Indigo wood root showed no clear difference in oral mucositis (moderate to severe) compared with saline (placebo); GRADE not reported.

• Interventions for preventing oral mucositis for patients with cancer receiving treatment 2011 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Median 28 days
  RR 0.75 [0.5, 1.1]
  1 study · 20 participants
  GRADE not reported

Sucralfate vs placebo or usual care

Sucralfate showed no clear difference in oral mucositis (any severity) compared with placebo/usual care (moderate certainty).

• Interventions for preventing oral mucositis for patients with cancer receiving treatment 2011 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Median 28 days
  RR 0.98 [0.88, 1.1]
  3 studies · 222 participants
  Moderate

Intestinal trefoil factor vs placebo

Intestinal trefoil factor showed no clear difference in oral mucositis (severe) compared with placebo; GRADE not reported.

• Interventions for preventing oral mucositis for patients with cancer receiving treatment 2011 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Median 28 days
  RR 1.52 [0.06, 36.39]
  1 study · 99 participants
  GRADE not reported

Reservoir biteguard device releasing a saliva substitute (with KY jelly + Saliva Orthana) vs Biteguard without reservoir (with KY jelly + Saliva Orthana)

• Interventions for the management of dry mouth: topical therapies 2011 · Cochrane All outcomes
  More in the reservoir group experienced relief of an oral impact and fewer a new impact (OIDP), but no difference in the total impact score between groups.
  1 study · 86 participants
  GRADE not reported