Affiliation:
1. Department of Dental Clinical Specialties, School of Dentistry Complutense University Madrid Spain
2. Department of Dental Clinical Specialties, ORALMED Research Group, School of Dentistry Complutense University Madrid Spain
3. Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine University of Foggia Foggia Italy
Abstract
AbstractObjectiveTo evaluate whether hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) or chloroquine (CQ) are effective for the treatment of oral lichen planus (OLP).Materials and MethodsA literature search was conducted in four databases. Clinical studies investigating the effect of HCQ/CQ in patients with OLP were included.ResultsEleven studies were included. Four were RCTs and seven quasi‐experimental studies. The studies included 390 patients diagnosed with OLP, of which 326 and 7 received HCQ and CQ, respectively. 46 patients received topical dexamethasone, 5 placebo and 6 griseofulvin as controls. Five studies assessed pain, and all of them obtained pain reduction with the use of HCQ. Six studies reported objective clinical improvement of OLP with the use of HCQ. Five studies that used a subjective scale obtained that 24%–100% of the patients achieved a complete/almost complete improvement of OLP lesions and its symptomatology. The most frequent side effects were vision problems, gastric discomfort, rash, nauseas, headaches, skin pigmentation, and elevated kidney function. 17 patients had to withdraw from the studies.ConclusionsCurrent evidence is scarce to confirm HCQ as a therapeutic option for OLP. More RCTs are needed to compare its efficacy with topical corticosteroids and to evaluate whether HCQ reduces relapses of OLP.