Introduction: Topical immunomodulating preparations have utility in inflammatory/immune-mediated oral mucosal disease resistant to topical steroids, in immunologically mediated systemic disease with primary oral involvement or more severe lesions primarily involving the oral mucosa.
Areas covered: This paper is the second part of a systematic review of a variety of topical immunomodulators for management of immune/inflammatory oral mucosal conditions. The literature search revealed studies of azathioprine, benzydamine, GM-CSF and G-CSF, tetracyclines, retinoids, imiquimod, amlexanox, sirolimus and bacillus Calmette-Guerin polysaccharide nucleic acid. Weighted conclusions are provided for the topical use of each of the immunomodulators reviewed in the management of these oral diseases.
Expert opinion: Topical immunomodulators may be useful as second line treatment in several oral diseases, particularly oral lichen planus and recurrent aphthous stomatitis. Benzydamine was found to be preventive in radiotherapy-induced mucositis; however, it is unclear if this outcome is related to its immunomodulating effects or other mechanisms of action. Topical application of tetracyclines and retinoic acid also shows potential anti-inflammatory actions.