Author(s)

Khalifa E. Sharquie^1*, Raad M. Helmi², Adil A. Noaimi¹, Mohand A. A. Kadhom³, Raafa K. Al-Hayani⁴

¹Scientific Council of Dermatology and Venereology-Iraqi and Arab Board for Medical Specializations, Department of Dermatology and Venereology, College of Medicine, University of Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq.
²Department of Oral Medicine, College of Dentistry, Al-Mustansiriya University, Baghdad, Iraq.
³School of Dentistry, Faculty of Medical Science, University of Duhok, Duhok, Iraq.
⁴Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Baghdad Teaching Hospital, Baghdad, Iraq.

Background: Recurrent aphthous ulcer (RAS) is a common oral disease where its etiopathogenesis is not well elucidated. There was no effective curative therapy for this disease. Isotretinoin has been recently used in the treatment of Behcet’s disease. Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of isotretinoin in treating RAS and the long term remission of RAS. Patients and Methods: This single-blind controlled therapeutic study conducted in Department of Dermatology-Baghdad Teaching Hospital during February 2011-January 2012. Thirty patients with typical RAS were included in this work. Detailed history and full examination were done for all patients. They were given isotretinoin 20 mg orally once daily for three months to be seen on Day 14 firstly and then monthly to be assessed using the oral clinical manifestation index (OCMI). After isotretinoin was stopped three months later, patients were given placebo therapy for another 3 months. Results: The results of 30 treated patients were as follows: 17 (56.67%) males and 13 (43.33%) females with male to female ratio was 1.3:1. Their ages ranged from 12 - 60 (35.33 ± 12.06) years. The OCMI before isotretinoin therapy ranged from 7 - 17 (13.13 ± 2.55), while after therapy the mean started to decline to a lower level within the first 14 days (P = 0.103), and continued to decline significantly until the end of the first month of therapy (P = 0.023). Then the OCMI declined very significantly until the end of fourth month of therapy (P < 0.001). After that the mean started to increase until the end of the 5 months (with placebo) but it remained statistically significant compared with the baseline of mean of OCMI before treatment (P = 0.046). Then it continued to increase to become not significant at the end of 6 months of therapy (P = 0.107). Conclusion: Isotretinoin is an effective therapeutic and prophylactic promising remedy in treatment of RAS.

Recurrent Aphthous Stomatitis, Isotretinoin, Iraq

Sharquie, K. , Helmi, R. , Noaimi, A. , Kadhom, M. and Al-Hayani, R. (2015) Therapeutic Role of Isotretinoin in the Management of Recurrent Aphthous Stomatitis (Single-Blind Controlled Therapeutic Study). Journal of Cosmetics, Dermatological Sciences and Applications, 5, 15-21. doi: 10.4236/jcdsa.2015.51003.