Clinical therapeutic effects of topical agents in adult patients with human immunodeficiency virus-related oral mucosa ulcers: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND The number of adult patients affected by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) still remains high, mainly in the developing countries. However, only a few affected patients fail to experience oral lesions in the course of their experience with the virus. In particular, oral mucosa ulcers detected among HIV patients may be severe, which depictions may inhibit oral functioning and change patients' quality of life. Thus, it can result in considerable morbidity among this group of patients. To this end, the present study aims to examine the topical agent's clinical therapeutic efficacy among adult patients suffering from HIV-related oral mucosa ulcers. METHODS For the investigation, only randomized controlled trials on any topical agent used to treat adult patients with HIV oral mucosa ulcers are to be explored from different databases: PubMed, the Cochrane Library, PsycINFO, EMBASE, SCOPUS, Web of Science, China Biomedical Literature Database, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, VIP, and WanFang databases. All databases will be searched from their inceptions to October 2020. Additionally, 2 independent authors will evaluate the possibly eligible studies to be included in the study. They will also perform data's trial extraction and risk of bias assessment. Accordingly, all data will be analysed by means of the RevMan 5.3 software. RESULTS The present study seeks to evaluate the topical agents' clinical therapeutic efficacy to treat adult patients with HIV-related oral mucosa ulcers. CONCLUSION The study can be applicable in providing evidence of any topical agents for treating adult patients with HIV-related oral mucosa ulcers for clinical practice. PROTOCOL REGISTRATION NUMBER DOI 10.17605/OSF.IO/5CYR2 (https://osf.io/5cyr2/).