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Investigators in Turkey conducted an open study to see if oral metronidazole is effective in the treatment of generalized idiopathic lichen planus (LP). Twenty consecutive patients were recruited; 6 were men, the mean age was 41, and the mean duration of disease was 3.5 months. The diagnosis was confirmed by pathologic examination. There was no involvement of the scalp, nails, or genitalia in any patient, but 7 patients had oral disease. One patient was excluded because of a concomitant protozoal infection.
The remaining patients were treated with metronidazole, 500 mg twice daily, for 20 to 60 days. Complete response -- defined as at least 80 percent clearing of LP, no new lesion formation, and alleviation of pruritus -- was seen in 13 pati…