Transcranial electrical stimulation and the anxiolytic fabomotizole in the combination therapy of patients with lichen ruber planus

Considering stress as one of the important triggers of lichen ruber planus (LRP), it is promising and expedient to include effective and safe methods aimed at its correction in the therapy of these patients. Objective. To evaluate the efficiency of combination treatment with transcranial electrical stimulation (TES) and the anxiolytic fabomotizole in patients with LRP. Methods. An open, prospective, comparative study involving 67 patients (mean age 44.10±15.78 years) with a common typical form of LRP was conducted. All the patients received the therapy in accordance with the federal clinical practice guidelines (chloroquine 250 mg orally twice daily; topical glucocorticosteroids). Adaptive randomization was used to divide the patients into 2 groups: 1) a study group including 33 (49.3%) patients who were prescribed TES and the anxiolytic fabomotizole in addition to standard therapy; 2) a comparison group consisting of 34 (50.7%) patients who received TES in addition to standard therapy. The therapy results were assessed on days 7,14, and 21. The examination algorithm included the assessment of clinical manifestations with consideration for the Lichen Planus Severity Index (LPSI); the severity of itching and its impact on the daily life of patients (Behavioral Rating Scale (BRS); the study of the psychoemotional background by using the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A), and the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D). Results. Before starting of the treatment, there were no statistically significant differences (p>0.05) in the groups in terms of the studied indices and scales. On day 7 of therapy, the study group patients achieved significantly more favorable results in terms of the studied parameters (LPSI, DLQI, BRS, HAM-A, and HAM-D). According to the BRS, just on day 14 the study group patients had the median of 0 scores (interquartile range, 0-0), while the comparison group achieved those only on day 21. Conclusion. The combination treatment with TES and fabomotizole in the study group patients with LRP showed higher efficiency than that in the comparison group that had been additionally prescribed only TES.