Clinical efficiency of narrowband-ultraviolet B phototherapy and methotrexate therapy and their effects on serum tumor necrosis factor-alpha in patients with cutaneous lichen planus

Objective This study aimed to assess the clinical efficiency of narrowband–ultraviolet B (NB–UVB) phototherapy and methotrexate (MTX) therapy and their effects on serum tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) in patients with cutaneous lichen planus (CLP). Patients and methods The present prospective cohort study was carried out on 60 patients with CLP. The included patients were indiscriminately classified into two treatment groups: group A (30 patients) received NB–UVB phototherapy for three months and group B (30 patients) received MTX therapy for 3 months. All the patients were assessed clinically and TNF-α before and after treatments. Results There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups of treatment with regard to clinical improvement after treatment (P=0.149). Regarding the levels of TNF-α, there was a statistically significant difference between the two treatment groups after treatment (P=0.024). There was a statistically significant reduction in TNF-α level after treatment in the MTX group. Conclusion This study concluded that NB–UVB phototherapy and MTX therapy were clinically effective in the treatment of patients with CLP. MTX therapy was more efficient in the reduction of TNF-α level than NB–UVB phototherapy in patients with CLP.