Comparison Betwen Therapeutic Effects of Low Molecular Weight Heparin and Oral Steroids in the Treatment of Lichen Planus
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.51253/pafmj.v75i3.8155Keywords:
Lichen Planus, Low Molecular Weight Heparin, Steroids.Abstract
Objective: To compare the therapeutic effects of low molecular weight heparin versus oral steroids in patients being treated for Lichen Planus.
Study Design: Quasi-experimental study.
Place and Duration of Study: Department of Dermatology, Ghurki Trust Teaching Hospital Lahore, Pakistan, from Apr 2021 to Jan 2022.
Methodology: A total of 96 patients with biopsy-proven Lichen Planus between the ages of 21 and 60 years of both genders were divided into two equal groups of 48 patients each. Patients in Group-A (n=48) were treated with low molecular weight heparin while those in Group-B (n=48) were treated with oral corticosteroids for 2 months. All patients followed in dermatology outpatient weekly for first month and then fortnightly there after till 3 months of treatment for remission of the disease and any adverse effects. Independent sample T-test and Chi square were applied to different variables, taking p value ≤0.05 as statistically significant.
Results: The mean age of patients included in the study was 35.83±9.06 years. The study sample comprised of 58 female patients (60.42%). Complete remission was achieved in 36 patients (37.5%) in Group-A, and 60 patients (62.5%) in Group-B, the difference being statistically significant (p<0.001). The overall frequency of complications was 3(6.3%) in Group-A and 17 (35.4%) in Group-B with the difference being statistically significant (p<0.001).
Conclusion: Oral corticosteroids are better than low molecular weight heparin in the treatment of Lichen Planus, albeit the increased frequency of dyspeptic symptoms associated with steroid use.
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