Evidence map›Paper›PMID 34342763›Full record

SynthesisClinical oral investigations2021

Efficacy of topical non-steroidal immunomodulators in the treatment of oral lichen planus: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Eduardo Liberato da Silva, Taiane Berguemaier de Lima, Pantelis Varvaki Rados, Fernanda Visioli

Abstract readMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Clinical oral investigations, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 13 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
13citing papers in PubMed, 2 pooled it
3.2field-weighted citation impact, top 8% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

13 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 32 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Efficacy of Topical Treatments for the Management of Symptomatic Oral Lichen Planus: A Systematic Review.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2023
    Pooled it
  3. Trial
  4. Article
  5. Review
  6. [Treatment of oral lichen planus-a review].Dermatologie (Heidelberg, Germany) · 2025
    Review
  7. Lichen Planus: What is New in Diagnosis and Treatment?American journal of clinical dermatology · 2024
    Review
  8. Oral Lichen Planus: An Update on Diagnosis and Management.American journal of clinical dermatology · 2024
    Review
  9. Article
  10. Article
  11. Review
  12. Article
  13. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.

Eduardo Liberato da SilvaOral Pathology and Oral Medicine Department, School of Dentistry, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Rua Ramiro Barcelos, 2492, Porto Alegre, RS, 90035-003, Brazil.
Taiane Berguemaier de LimaOral Pathology and Oral Medicine Department, School of Dentistry, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Rua Ramiro Barcelos, 2492, Porto Alegre, RS, 90035-003, Brazil.
Pantelis Varvaki RadosOral Pathology and Oral Medicine Department, School of Dentistry, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Rua Ramiro Barcelos, 2492, Porto Alegre, RS, 90035-003, Brazil.
Fernanda VisioliOral Pathology and Oral Medicine Department, School of Dentistry, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Rua Ramiro Barcelos, 2492, Porto Alegre, RS, 90035-003, Brazil. fernanda.visioli@ufrgs.br.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4033-8431
Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul · BR

Funding

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico 001Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior 001
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesThe aim of this systematic review was to assess the efficacy and safety of topical non-steroidal immunomodulators (TNSIs) for oral lichen planus (OLP) treatment. MATERIALS AND

methodsA search strategy designed for this purpose retrieved 1156 references. After analysis of titles and abstracts, 75 studies were selected for full-text analysis. Only randomized controlled clinical trials were selected, resulting in 28 studies included for qualitative and quantitative analysis.

resultsThe meta-analysis showed similar benefits in clinical response and symptom resolution between tacrolimus 0.1% and pimecrolimus 1% in comparison to topical steroids (TS). Pimecrolimus showed superior efficacy of clinical response but not for symptom resolution compared to placebo. Tacrolimus and pimecrolimus showed better performance preventing symptom relapse, while pimecrolimus also prevented clinical relapse better than TS. Cyclosporine was superior to placebo; however, TS showed better efficacy of clinical response. Thalidomide and retinoid were assessed in only one trial each, and both showed similar efficacy to TS. Rapamycin also presented similar clinical response to TS; however, the later showed greater reduction of symptoms. Mycophenolate mofetil 2% mucoadhesive was no better than placebo. No serious adverse effects have been reported. Cyclosporine showed a higher frequency and variety of adverse effects.

conclusionsTopical tacrolimus and pimecrolimus are safe and effective alternatives for OLP treatment. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: TS are usually the first choice for OLP treatment. Because some oral lesions may have a low response to treatment with TS, more topical therapeutic options, such as TNSIs, should be considered before systemic steroids are used.

Indexed as

Lichen Planus, OralAdministration, TopicalHumansImmunologic FactorsImmunosuppressive AgentsSteroidsTreatment OutcomeImmunologic FactorsImmunosuppressive AgentsSteroidsCyclosporineOral lichen planusPimecrolimusRetinoidsTacrolimusThalidomideTopical treatment

Identifiers

PMID34342763
OpenAlexW3188230379

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.