Autologous platelet-rich plasma and triamcinolone acetonide intralesional injection in the treatment of oral erosions of pemphigus vulgaris: a pilot study

Oral erosions of pemphigus vulgaris (PV) represent a therapeutic challenge. In this work we compared intralesional injection of steroids (ILS) and autologous platelet-rich plasma (PRP) treatment of oral erosions of PV. In this split–mouth randomized double blind study, one side of the buccal mucosa of 11 PV patients was injected with 10 mg/ml triamcinolone and the opposite side was injected with 1 millilitre of autologous PRP every 14 days for 3 months. The percentage of clinical improvement, pemphigus disease area index and pain score were recorded before and after therapy. Out of 11 recruited patients, only 9 completed the study. Seven out of the nine patients (78%) showed improvement in PDAI and/or pain score. The mean oral PDAI of the steroid injected sides decreased from 2.3 to 0.9. The mean oral PDAI of the PRP injected sides decreased from 2.6 to 1.0. No significant difference was detected in clinical improvement, PDAI and pain score between autologous PRP and ILS in the treatment of oral erosions of PV. Autologous PRP can be used for the treatment of resistant oral erosions of PV when ILS is contraindicated.