Efficacy of Topical Amlexanox Oral Paste and Triamcinolone Acetonide Oral Paste in the Management of Oral Lichen Planus – A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Shreya M. Ajarekar, Anjana S. Bagewadi, Vasanti P. Jirge, Vaishali K. Keluskar, T JayapriyaBackground:
Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a chronic inflammatory condition of oral mucosa associated with pain, burning sensation, and functional discomfort. Management remains challenging due to its multifactorial etiology. Triamcinolone acetonide and anti-inflammatory agents such as Amlexanox are commonly used; however, their comparative effectiveness remains unclear.
Objective:
To assess efficacy of topical Amlexanox and Triamcinolone acetonide oral paste in the management of OLP.
Methods:
A systematic search of PubMed/MEDLINE, Google Scholar, Scopus, ProQuest, ClinicalKey, and OpenGrey was conducted to find randomized controlled and prospective studies comparing efficacy of Amlexanox and Triamcinolone acetonide in OLP. Data were extracted on lesion size reduction, pain relief, and adverse events. Quality was assessed using the Cochrane RevMan and MINORS tools. Meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.4 with 95% confidence intervals.
Results:
Six studies were included, wherein both treatments showed improvement in pain and healing, with no statistically significant difference between groups. Adverse effects were minimal and comparable.
Conclusion:
Topical Amlexanox and Triamcinolone acetonide oral pastes were effective in providing symptom relief and promoting lesion healing, with no significant difference in efficacy.