Original Research Article

A French practice study within the Group for the Study of Oral Mucosa (GEMUB): Allopathic treatment of oral lichen

¹ Oral Surgery Department, CHU Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
² Université de Bordeaux, Département de chirurgie orale, UFR d'Odontologie, Bordeaux, France
³ INSERM, BIOTIS, U1026, Université de Bordeaux, 33076 Bordeaux, France

^* Corresponding author: lelia.menager@hotmail.com

Received: 29 January 2025
Accepted: 12 February 2025

Abstract

Lichen planus is a chronic inflammatory dermatosis of unknown origin, generally affecting the skin, nails and scalp. It can also affect the mucous membranes of the oral cavity and ano-genital region. Due to the paucity of randomised controlled trials, no standardised, universally effective approach to the management of oral lichen has been identified. The main objective of this study was to describe the prescribing of drug therapies for the treatment of OLP. Data were collected by means of a questionnaire sent to members of the Group for the Study of Oral Mucosa (GEMUB). Of the 168 GEMUB members in 2023, 56 completed the questionnaire, giving a response rate of 33.3 per cent. 41 per cent were oral surgeons, 34 per cent dermatologists and 12.5 per cent dental surgeons. The most frequently prescribed first-line treatment (for all clinical forms) was local corticosteroid therapy (100 per cent of responses). The most frequently prescribed second-line treatment was topical tacrolimus (48.2 per cent of responses). As a third-line treatment for isolated oral lichen planus, 25 per cent of questionnaire respondents referred their patients to another specialist. Our results highlight significant variability in treatment choices, underscoring the urgent need for evidence-based clinical guidelines to standardise practices and improve clinical outcomes for patients with this complex pathology.