Efficacy of 0.1% topical tacrolimus in the management of symptomatic geographic tongue: A placebo-controlled study

Abstract

Background: Geographic tongue is characterized by erythematous patches with whitish margins across the surface of the tongue, with periods of exacerbation and remission that confer the typical migratory aspect of this entity. There is no definite treatment for geographic tongue as yet. The present study aims to evaluate the response of treatment with topical tacrolimus ointment 0.1% w/w (Protopic®) in geographic tongue. Materials and Methods: This was a prospective study involving a total of 14 patients who were randomly divided into two groups, namely Group A and Group B, with 7 patients in each group. Patients were requested to apply 0.1% topical tacrolimus ointment (Protopic®) in an oral base on their lesions and an identical placebo. At each visit, the burning sensation was tested through the Visual Analog Scale and the treatment responses were tested through Tel Aviv-San Francisco Scale. Data were assessed using IBM Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) Statistics version 21. Results: Patients in Group A (0.1% topical tacrolimus) depicted lower scores of burning sensation after the treatment as compared to Group B (placebo). The overall treatment response was significantly better in Group A than Group B. Conclusion: The results of the present study suggest that topical application of 0.1% tacrolimus is beneficial in the management of symptomatic geographic tongue.