Evaluation of Salivary Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) Level in Patients With Oral Lichen Planus Before and After Treatment With 0.2% Triamcinolone Mouthwash

Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a chronic mucocutaneous disease, involving the skin and mucous membranes. Although the pathogenesis of OLP is not fully understood, the immune system, genetic and environmental factors, medications, and infections may play an important role in OLP. The level of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) is known to increase in pathological conditions, such as squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), as well as inflammatory conditions, such as OLP. If pain and soreness are present, topical corticosteroids (CSs) are the first-line treatment for these patients. This study aimed to evaluate the level of MMP-9 in individuals with OLP before and after treatment with triamcinolone 0.2% mouthwash.

This study was conducted on 18 patients with erosive-atrophic OLP. First, 5 mL of unstimulated saliva was collected, and then, triamcinolone 0.2% mouthwash was prescribed to all the patients. After treatment and healing of the lesions, a sample was collected again from the participants. The MMP-9 concentration was quantified in all the samples using an ELISA kit.

The mean age of the participants, including five males and 13 females, was 45.7 years in this study. Before treatment, the mean MMP-9 concentration was 1.599 ng/mL, with a standard deviation (SD) of 1.074, while the mean (±SD) level of MMP-9 was 0.933 ng/mL (0.649) after treatment. The mean reduction was estimated at 0.666, with SD of 1.056 (P=0.016).

The MMP-9 level was significantly lower after treatment compared to the pretreatment stage. Based on the results, topical CSs, such as triamcinolone, can decrease the level of MMP-9, as a reliable biomarker of OLP severity; therefore, they can diminish inflammation and prevent the dysplastic progression of the disease.