Comparative efficacy of intralesional platelet-rich plasma and triamcinolone acetonide in oral lichen planus: a prospective clinical study

Abstract

Background: Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a chronic immune-mediated inflammatory condition requiring long-term management. Corticosteroids remain the mainstay of treatment; however, their prolonged use is associated with adverse effects. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP), owing to its regenerative and anti-inflammatory properties, has emerged as a potential alternative. Materials and methods: A prospective clinical study was conducted on 52 patients with clinically and histopathologically confirmed OLP. Patients were divided into two groups: Group I received intralesional PRP, and Group II received intralesional triamcinolone acetonide (TA) at weekly intervals for 4 weeks. Pain was assessed using the visual analog scale (VAS), and clinical severity was evaluated using the Thongprasom sign scoring system. Results: Both groups showed a significant reduction in VAS and Thongprasom scores over time ( P < 0.05). Intergroup comparison revealed no statistically significant difference in pain reduction during the treatment period ( P > 0.05). However, during extended follow-up (6–12 weeks), the TA group demonstrated significantly better clinical improvement compared with the PRP group ( P < 0.05). Conclusion: Both PRP and TA are effective in the management of symptomatic OLP. PRP provides comparable short-term symptomatic relief with a favorable safety profile, while TA offers superior long-term clinical outcomes. PRP may serve as an effective alternative in selected patients, particularly those with contraindications to corticosteroid therapy.