Efficacy of 0.1% tacrolimus in long-term management of erosive lichen planus.

OBJECTIVES

This study documented the response of erosive oral lichen planus (OLP) to exclusive treatment with 0.1% topical tacrolimus over a 12-month period or until the patient became unresponsive to therapy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A retrospective cohort design was used to acquire data on 12 patients with recalcitrant OLP that were prescribed 0.1% tacrolimus. These patients were prescribed 0.1% tacrolimus after failing to respond to conventional corticosteroid therapy. Information about their response to medication initially and on flare ups were included in this study.

RESULTS

The sample consisted of nine women and three men. All patients were given 0.1% tacrolimus to be applied 3 times a day. Two patients did not respond to the treatment at all, 4 patients showed partial response to tacrolimus treatment. Six patients showed complete initial response to treatment.

CONCLUSION

50% of our patients showed a suboptimal response to 0.1% tacrolimus use for erosive OLP, thus, suggesting that in some cases 0.1% tacrolimus may be an ineffective option for managing erosive OLP.