Evaluation of diode laser versus topical corticosteroid in management of Behcet's disease-associated oral ulcers: a randomized clinical trial.

OBJECTIVES

The current trial was conducted to assess the effect of diode laser therapy compared to topical corticosteroid in management of oral ulcers of BD.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

Fifty patients were divided randomly into two parallel groups. The first group received 980 nm diode laser; the second group received topical corticosteroid (0.1% triamcinolone acetonide). The outcome measures included oral ulcer activity index (composite index), pain (VAS), number of oral ulcers, healing time, and oral health-related quality of life (OHIP-14). The collected data were analyzed for any statistical significance.

RESULTS

A statistically significant difference was detected between laser and corticosteroid groups favoring laser on comparing composite index and VAS scores on the first and third days and on comparing number of ulcers on the third and fifth days. A statistically significant difference was detected between laser and corticosteroid groups on comparing scores of the questions assessing discomfort with eating food, irritability with other people, taste worsening, unsatisfactory diet, and painful aching on the first and/or third days. No adverse effects were reported by participants of both groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Diode laser is efficient safe treatment modality for management of BD-associated oral ulcers. Diode laser was more efficient than triamcinolone acetonide in controlling pain and reducing oral ulcer activity.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Laser therapy is efficient safe modality that could spare BD patient from adding a new medication to their long list, being just one visit compared to other regular daily regimen medications.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov registration number: NCT03771768.