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Recurrent aphthous stomatitis unresponsive to topical corticosteroids: a study of the comparative therapeutic effects of systemic prednisone and systemic sulodexide
Author(s) -
Femiano Felice,
Gombos Fernando,
Scully Crispian
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
international journal of dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.677
H-Index - 93
eISSN - 1365-4632
pISSN - 0011-9059
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-4362.2003.01853.x
Subject(s) - medicine , prednisone , adverse effect , stomatitis , recurrent aphthous stomatitis , systemic therapy , therapeutic effect , etiology , dermatology , systemic disease , immunopathology , cancer , breast cancer
Background Recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) is a common oral condition, the etiology of which remains largely unclear. Numerous therapeutic protocols have been tried. Apart from immunomodulators, no therapy is unequivocally effective, and many systemic therapies have potential adverse effects. Objective To compare, in patients with frequent RAS unresponsive to conventional therapies, the therapeutic effectiveness of systemic prednisone with that of systemic sulodexide, a low‐molecular‐weight heparin with immunosuppressive activity but few adverse effects. Methods The study involved a group of 30 patients suffering from frequent minor RAS over ≥ 4 months unresponsive to topical corticosteroids. Patients were randomly assigned to one of three study groups: blind therapy with systemic sulodexide or systemic prednisone and control (no treatment). The outcomes were assessed blind on the basis of the days to recovery from pain and days to recovery from ulceration (epithelialization) during the first month of therapy; the number of aphthae appearing during the second month of therapy; and the number of aphthae appearing in the 2 months after the end of the 2‐month treatment cycle. Results and conclusions The effectiveness of systemic sulodexide was almost comparable with that of systemic prednisone in patients with frequent RAS, without significant adverse effects.