Clinical efficiency of narrowband–ultraviolet B phototherapy and methotrexate therapy and their effects on serum tumor necrosis factor-alpha in patients with cutaneous lichen planus

Abstract

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<jats:title>Objective</jats:title>
<jats:p>This study aimed to assess the clinical efficiency of narrowband–ultraviolet B (NB–UVB) phototherapy and methotrexate (MTX) therapy and their effects on serum tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) in patients with cutaneous lichen planus (CLP).</jats:p>
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<jats:title>Patients and methods</jats:title>
<jats:p>The present prospective cohort study was carried out on 60 patients with CLP. The included patients were indiscriminately classified into two treatment groups: group A (30 patients) received NB–UVB phototherapy for three months and group B (30 patients) received MTX therapy for 3 months. All the patients were assessed clinically and TNF-α before and after treatments.</jats:p>
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<jats:title>Results</jats:title>
<jats:p>There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups of treatment with regard to clinical improvement after treatment (<jats:italic toggle="yes">P</jats:italic>=0.149). Regarding the levels of TNF-α, there was a statistically significant difference between the two treatment groups after treatment (<jats:italic toggle="yes">P</jats:italic>=0.024). There was a statistically significant reduction in TNF-α level after treatment in the MTX group.</jats:p>
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<jats:title>Conclusion</jats:title>
<jats:p>This study concluded that NB–UVB phototherapy and MTX therapy were clinically effective in the treatment of patients with CLP. MTX therapy was more efficient in the reduction of TNF-α level than NB–UVB phototherapy in patients with CLP.</jats:p>
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