Betamethasone valerate aerosol in the treatment of oral lichen planus

Abstract

Betamethasone valerate aerosol, given in doses of up to 800 .mu.g/day, was compared with placebo in a double-blind trial involving 23 patients with oral lichen planus. The majority of patients receiving the active aerosol noted improvement within the first 2 wk of treatment and at 8 wk the lesions had almost cleared; only 2 patients on placebo showed slight improvement over the same time period. This form of treatment may be an effective and acceptable method of controlling the discomfort due to oral lichen planus, especially where minor erosions are present.