Efficacy of intralesional betamethasone for erosive oral lichen planus and evaluation of recurrence: a randomized, controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine the efficacy and safety of intralesional betamethasone in erosive oral lichen planus and to evaluate relapse of erosion. STUDY DESIGN: Patients were randomly assigned to the experimental group (1.4 mg intralesional betamethasone) or to the control group (8 mg intralesional triamcinolone acetonide), and they received injections once a week for 2 weeks. Erosive area and pain level were assessed on days 1, 7 +/- 2, and 14 +/- 2. If the lesion disappeared, any recurrence within the following 3 months was recorded. RESULTS: Twenty-nine participants in the experimental group and 30 in the control group completed the protocol. Healed percentage was higher with betamethasone (93.1%) than with triamcinolone (66.7%; P = .02), and final reduction in erosion area was greater in the experimental group (21.276 +/- 21.064 mm(2)) than in the control group (11.5 +/- 12.95 mm(2); P = .02). Reduction in pain level did not differ between groups. The proportion of participants with recurrent erosions was significantly lower in the experimental group (14.8%) than in the control group (45%; P = .04). CONCLUSIONS: Intralesional betamethasone may be used in the topical treatment of erosive oral lichen planus.