Relative efficacy of fluocinolone acetonide compared with triamcinolone acetonide in treatment of oral lichen planus

Twenty patients with oral lichen planus and topically treated with fluocinolone acetonide in orabase 0.1% (FAO) were compared with 20 treated with triamcinolone acetonide in orabase 0.1% (TAO). During 4 wk of treatment the lesions in 13 of 19 patients could be effectively cured with FAO whereas only 8 of 19 patients were cured with TAO. These differences were statistically significant. There were no differences in blood pressure, plasma cortisol or number of circulating lymphocytes after treatment with FAO, but the number of eosinophils was reduced in every case after treatment for 6 months. There was no permanent adrenal cortical suppression after treatment for 6 months. Acute pseudomembranous candidiasis during the treatment was common but could be cured with antifungal drug in every case. This study shows that FAO in a majority of cases is an effective treatment of oral lichen planus without any serious clinical side effects apart from treatable candidiasis.