Photochemotherapy of oral lichen planus. A controlled study.

Photochemotherapy with 8-methoxypsoralen and long-wave ultraviolet light (PUVA) has become a useful alternative in dermatologic therapy. PUVA therapy has been successfully used in the treatment of severe psoriasis and cutaneous lichen planus. The aim of this investigation was to use PUVA in the treatment of oral lichen planus (OLP). Eighteen patients with long-standing, bilateral, and severe OLP of the buccal mucosa participated in the investigation. A dose of 0.6 mg/kg 8-methoxypsoralen was administered orally 2 hours before long-wave ultraviolet light irradiation was done. The patients were randomly assigned to treatment of the left or right side of the buccal mucosa. The irradiation therapy was given 12 times at intervals of 2 to 3 days, and the patients received a total average dosage of 16.5 J/cm2. The results showed that 13 treated sites compared with six control sites responded significantly favorable to PUVA therapy. Two patients dropped out because of side effects that were similar to those seen after whole-body irradiation PUVA treatment. The follow up times was 12 months. The conclusion of this study is that PUVA seems to be effective in the treatment of OLP and should be considered in severe cases of OLP.