Recognition and management of vitamin B12 deficiency: Report of four cases with oral manifestations.

Vitamins are organic compounds present in low concentrations in food, performing vital and specific cell metabolism functions. Vitamin B12 is essential for red blood cell formation in the bone marrow and its deficiency is caused, mainly, by gastrointestinal malabsorption. In addition to systemic manifestations, oral signs and symptoms have also been associated to this condition such as glossitis, papillary atrophy, painful erythema areas, burning sensation, dysgeusia, lingual paresthesia and itching. This study aims to report four cases of oral manifestations caused by vitamin B12 deficiency. All patients presented oral mucosa lesions. Vitamin B12 deficiency was diagnosed based in clinical characteristics and complementary exams. Oral supplementation for vitamin B12 deficiency was conducted/realized in three patients, while one patient was treated with parenteral doses. All of them showed partial or total remission of the signs and symptoms.

Does serum gastric parietal cell antibody titer have influence on anemia and vitamin B12 deficiency in atrophic glossitis patients?

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Our previous study found 284 gastric parietal cell antibody (GPCA)-positive atrophic glossitis (AG) patients (so-called GPCA+AG patients in this study) in a group of 1064 AG patients. This study evaluated whether high-titer (GPCA titer ≥ 160) GPCA+AG patients had greater frequencies of anemia, vitamin B12 deficiency, macrocytosis, and hyperhomocysteinemia than low-titer (GPCA titer < 160) GPCA+AG patients. METHODS: Complete blood count, serum iron, vitamin B12, folic acid, homocysteine, and GPCA levels in 117 high-titer GPCA+AG patients, 167 low-titer GPCA+AG patients, and 532 healthy control subjects were measured and compared. RESULTS: We found that 12.0%, 29.1%, 23.1%, 16.2%, 1.7%, and 23.1% of 117 high-titer GPCA+AG patients and 5.4%, 17.4%, 17.4%, 7.2%, 1.2%, and 14.4% of 167 low-titer GPCA+AG patients were diagnosed as having macrocytosis, blood hemoglobin, iron, vitamin B12, and folic acid deficiencies, and hyperhomocysteinemia, respectively. Moreover, both 117 high-titer and 167 low-titer GPCA+AG patients had significantly greater frequencies of macrocytosis, blood hemoglobin, serum iron and vitamin B12 deficiencies, and hyperhomocysteinemia than 532 healthy control subjects (all P-values < 0.05). In addition, 117 high-titer GPCA+AG patients also had greater frequencies of anemia (P = 0.029, statistically significant), serum vitamin B12 deficiency (P = 0.027, statistically significant), macrocytosis (P = 0.075, marginal significance), and hyperhomocysteinemia (P = 0.085, marginal significance) than 167 low-titer GPCA+AG patients. CONCLUSION: For GPCA+AG patients, high-titer GPCA+AG patients have greater frequencies of anemia, serum vitamin B12 deficiency, macrocytosis, and hyperhomocysteinemia than low-titer GPCA+AG patients.

Hematinic deficiencies, hyperhomocysteinemia, and gastric parietal cell antibody positivity in atrophic glossitis patients with normocytosis.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Normocytosis is defined as having the mean corpuscular volume (MCV) between 80 fL and 99.9 fL. This study evaluated whether 944 atrophic glossitis (AG) patients with normocytosis had significantly higher frequencies of anemia, hematinic deficiencies, hyperhomocysteinemia, and serum gastric parietal cell antibody (GPCA) positivity than 532 healthy control subjects or 1064 AG patients. METHODS: Complete blood count, serum iron, vitamin B12, folic acid, homocysteine, and GPCA levels in 944 AG patients with normocytosis, 1064 AG patients, and 532 healthy control subjects were measured and compared. RESULTS: We found that 12.4%, 14.5%, 2.3%, 2.0%, 9.0%, and 25.7% of 944 AG patients with normocytosis had blood hemoglobin (Hb), iron, vitamin B12, and folic acid deficiencies, hyperhomocysteinemia, and serum GPCA positivity, respectively. Furthermore, 944 AG patients with normocytosis had significantly higher frequencies of blood Hb, iron, vitamin B12, folic acid deficiencies, hyperhomocysteinemia, and serum GPCA positivity than 532 healthy control subjects (all P-values < 0.01). On the contrary, 944 AG patients with normocytosis had significantly lower frequencies of blood Hb and vitamin B12 deficiencies and hyperhomocysteinemia than overall 1064 AG patients (all P-values < 0.05). CONCLUSION: We conclude that there are significantly higher frequencies of anemia and serum iron, vitamin B12, and folic acid deficiencies, hyperhomocysteinemia, and serum GPCA positivity in AG patients with normocytosis than in healthy control subjects. On the contrary, AG patients with normocytosis have significantly lower frequencies of blood Hb and vitamin B12 deficiencies and hyperhomocysteinemia than overall AG patients.

Hematinic deficiencies, hyperhomocysteinemia, and gastric parietal cell antibody positivity in atrophic glossitis patients with macrocytosis.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Macrocytosis is defined as having the mean corpuscular volume (MCV) â‰§ 100 fL. This study evaluated whether 41 atrophic glossitis (AG) patients with macrocytosis had significantly higher frequencies of anemia, hematinic deficiencies, hyperhomocysteinemia, and serum gastric parietal cell antibody (GPCA) positivity than 532 healthy control subjects or 1064 AG patients. METHODS: Complete blood count, serum iron, vitamin B12, folic acid, homocysteine, and GPCA levels in 41 AG patients with macrocytosis, 1064 AG patients, and 532 healthy control subjects were measured and compared. RESULTS: We found that 73.2%, 22.0%, 73.2%, 4.9%, 80.5%, and 56.1% of 41 AG patients with macrocytosis were diagnosed as having blood hemoglobin, iron, vitamin B12, and folic acid deficiencies, hyperhomocysteinemia, and serum GPCA positivity, respectively. Moreover, 41 AG patients with macrocytosis had significantly higher frequencies of blood hemoglobin and serum vitamin B12 deficiencies, hyperhomocysteinemia, and serum GPCA positivity than 532 healthy control subjects or 1064 AG patients (all P-values < 0.001). In addition, 41 AG patients with macrocytosis also had significantly higher frequencies of serum iron and folic acid deficiencies than 532 healthy control subjects (both P-values < 0.001). Pernicious anemia was found in 22 AG patients with macrocytosis. CONCLUSION: There are significantly higher frequencies of anemia and serum iron, vitamin B12, and folic acid deficiencies, hyperhomocysteinemia, and serum GPCA positivity in AG patients with macrocytosis than in healthy control subjects. AG patients with macrocytosis also have significantly higher frequencies of blood hemoglobin and serum vitamin B12 deficiencies, hyperhomocysteinemia, and serum GPCA positivity than AG patients.

Anemia, hematinic deficiencies, hyperhomocysteinemia, and serum gastric parietal cell antibody positivity in atrophic glossitis patients with or without microcytosis.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Microcytosis is defined as having mean corpuscular volume (MCV) < 80 fL. This study evaluated whether 79 atrophic glossitis (AG) patients with microcytosis and 985 AG patient without microcytosis had higher frequencies of anemia, hematinic deficiencies, hyperhomocysteinemia, and serum gastric parietal cell antibody (GPCA) positivity than 532 healthy control subjects. METHODS: Complete blood count, serum iron, vitamin B12, folic acid, homocysteine, and serum GPCA levels in 79 AG patients with microcytosis, 985 AG patient without microcytosis, and 532 healthy control subjects were measured and compared. RESULTS: We found that 69.6%, 43.0%, 5.1%, 3.8%, 11.4%, and 22.8% of 79 AG patients with microcytosis and 14.9%, 14.8%, 5.3%, 2.1%, 12.0%, and 27.0% of 985 AG patients without microcytosis were diagnosed as having blood hemoglobin, iron, vitamin B12, and folic acid deficiencies, hyperhomocysteinemia, and serum GPCA positivity, respectively. Both 79 AG patients with microcytosis and 985 AG patients without microcytosis had significantly higher frequencies of blood hemoglobin, iron, vitamin B12, and folic acid deficiencies, hyperhomocysteinemia, and serum GPCA positivity than 532 healthy control subjects (all P-values < 0.01). Moreover, 79 AG patients with microcytosis had significantly higher frequencies of blood hemoglobin and iron deficiencies than 985 AG patients without microcytosis. CONCLUSION: There are significantly higher frequencies of anemia, serum iron, vitamin B12, and folic acid deficiencies, hyperhomocysteinemia, and serum GPCA positivity in AG patients with or without microcytosis than in healthy control subjects. AG patients with microcytosis have significantly higher frequencies of blood hemoglobin and iron deficiencies than AG patients without microcytosis.

The Effect of Zinc Gluconate Supplementation on Symptoms and Tongue Epithelium Regeneration in Non-psoriatic Patients with Migratory Glossitis.

The aim of this study was to evaluate zinc gluconate as a treatment option in patients with symptomatic migratory glossitis (MG). Using simple random sampling, 28 non-psoriatic patients with symptomatic MG were divided into a test and control group. The test group took 20 mg/day of chelated zinc gluconate for one month, and was put on a diet rich in zinc. The control group was only put on a diet rich in zinc. Changes in the size of red atrophied areas (width and length) and the intensity of symptoms were evaluated as primary and secondary outcomes, respectively, at baseline, after therapy, and one month later. In the test group, the mean value of the red atrophy area width and length displayed some significant reduction as a primary outcome. There were no significant changes in the size of red patches in the control group. Secondary outcome showed that the intensity of subjective symptoms in the test group significantly decreased (P=0.042) compared with controls. The filiform papillae had partially or completely regenerated in 85.7% of cases in the test group and in 23.1% of the controls (P=0.001). Red patches with raised keratotic rims may have healed spontaneously and reappeared in constantly changing patterns that are typical for MG. This phenomenon was not observed in patients supplemented with zinc, and new atrophy areas occurred in only one case. Low-dose zinc gluconate.

Gastric parietal cell and thyroid autoantibodies in Behcet's disease patients with or without atrophic glossitis.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Behcet's disease (BD) patients should have recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) but they may or may not have atrophic glossitis (AG). This study mainly assessed the frequencies of serum gastric parietal cell antibody (GPCA), thyroglobulin antibody (TGA), and thyroid microsomal antibody (TMA) positivities in 30 AG-positive RAS/BD (AG+RAS/BD) and 33 AG-negative RAS/BD (AGÖ¾RAS/BD) patients. METHODS: The frequencies of serum GPCA, TGA, and TMA positivities in 30 AG+RAS/BD patients, 33 AGÖ¾RAS/BD patients, and 126 healthy control subjects were calculated and compared. RESULTS: We found that 20.0%, 30.0%, and 26.7% of 30 AG+RAS/BD patients, 9.1%, 12.1%, and 15.2% of 33 AGÖ¾RAS/BD patients, and 1.6%, 2.4%, and 2.4% of 126 healthy control subject had the presence of GPCA, TGA, and TMA in their sera, respectively. The 30 AG+RAS/BD patients had significantly higher frequencies of serum GPCA, TGA, and TMA positivities than healthy control subjects (all P-values < 0.001). The 33 AGÖ¾RAS/BD patients had a higher frequency of serum TGA positivity (P = 0.051, marginal significance) and a significantly higher frequency of serum TMA positivity (P = 0.011) than healthy control subjects. Although the 30 AG+RAS/BD patients had higher frequencies of serum GPCA, TGA, and TMA positivities than the 33 AGÖ¾RAS/BD patients, the differences were not significant. CONCLUSION: AG+RAS/BD patients do have significantly higher frequencies of serum GPCA, TGA, and TMA positivities than healthy control subjects. This finding indicates that the concomitant presence of AG may result in significantly elevated frequencies of serum GPCA, TGA, and TMA positivities in BD patients.

Hematinic deficiencies and anemia statuses in recurrent aphthous stomatitis patients with or without atrophic glossitis.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Some of recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) patients had concomitant atrophic glossitis (AG). This study assessed whether RAS patients with AG (AG+/RAS patients) or without AG (AG-/RAS patients) had anemia and hematinic deficiencies and to evaluate whether RAS combined with AG or RAS itself was a significant factor causing anemia and hematinic deficiencies in AG+/RAS or AG-/RAS patients, respectively. METHODS: The mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and mean blood hemoglobin (Hb), iron, vitamin B12, and folic acid levels were measured and compared between any two of three groups of 160 AG+/RAS patients, 195 AG-/RAS patients, and 355 healthy control subjects. RESULTS: Both AG+/RAS and AG-/RAS patients had significantly lower mean Hb, iron, and vitamin B12 levels as well as significantly greater frequencies of Hb, iron, vitamin B12, and folic acid deficiencies than healthy control subjects. Moreover, AG+/RAS patients had significantly lower mean Hb and serum iron level (for women only) and significantly greater frequencies of Hb and iron deficiencies than AG-/RAS patients. Of 69 anemia AG+/RAS patients, 30 (43.5%) had normocytic anemia and 23 (33.3%) had iron deficiency anemia. Of 38 anemia AG-/RAS patients, 26 (68.4%) had normocytic anemia and 5 (13.2%) had iron deficiency anemia. CONCLUSION: We conclude that some of AG+/RAS or AG-/RAS patients do have anemia and hematinic deficiencies and AG+/RAS patients do have severer anemia statuses and iron deficiency than AG-/RAS patients. RAS combined with AG or RAS itself does play a significant role in causing anemia and hematinic deficiencies in AG+/RAS or AG-/RAS patients, respectively.

[Integrated approach to the treatment of oral mucosa diseases in patients with chronic gastritis].

The article presents data on the clinical and microbiological short and long term efficacy of treatment of the oral mucosa diseases in patients with Helicobacter pylori associated and not associated chronic gastritis depending on the chosen treatment regimen.

Matched case-control study to examine association of psoriasis and migratory glossitis in India.

BACKGROUND: Psoriasis is a multifactorial disease. Genetic and environmental factors, which determine the disease epidemiology and clinical spectrum, are heterogeneous in different populations. A few case-control studies from other countries have shown an association between psoriasis and migratory glossitis (MG). The characteristics of the association (e.g. relationship with gender, severity of psoriasis, early- versus late-onset psoriasis, etc.) have not been clearly defined. AIM: To investigate the association of psoriasis and MG by conducting a matched case-control study in India. METHODS: The study was conducted on 600 patients with psoriasis and 800 age- and sex-matched controls. Patients were examined for oral lesions and psoriasis severity was assessed by overall severity index (OSI) and psoriasis area and severity index (PASI). We compared the proportions of patients and controls with oral lesions, proportions of male and female patients who had MG, psoriasis severity scores of patients with or without MG, and proportions of early- and late-onset psoriasis patients who had MG. RESULTS: Significantly, more patients had oral lesions than controls (P=0.0013). There was a strong association between psoriasis and MG (P<0.0001). MG and fissured tongue (FT) occurring in the same patient were also strongly associated with psoriasis (P=0.0003). There was a weak association of psoriasis with FT (P=0.0456). Significantly, higher proportion of male patients had MG compared to female patients (P=0.0246). Patients with MG had more severe psoriasis compared to those without the tongue lesions (P<0.0001). Similar proportions of patients with type 1 and type 2 psoriasis had MG (P=0.7268). CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that MG is a rare manifestation of psoriasis which occurs more commonly in male patients and in those with severe disease, and that it occurs with equal frequency in early- and late-onset psoriasis. It will be interesting to follow those patients who have MG, but not psoriasis, to see whether they develop psoriasis phenotype in future.

Metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 contributes to inflammatory tongue pain via extracellular signal-regulated kinase signaling in the trigeminal spinal subnucleus caudalis and upper cervical spinal cord.

BACKGROUND: In the orofacial region, limited information is available concerning pathological tongue pain, such as inflammatory pain or neuropathic pain occurring in the tongue. Here, we tried for the first time to establish a novel animal model of inflammatory tongue pain in rats and to investigate the roles of metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGluR5)-extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signaling in this process. METHODS: Complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) was submucosally injected into the tongue to induce the inflammatory pain phenotype that was confirmed by behavioral testing. Expression of phosphorylated ERK (pERK) and mGluR5 in the trigeminal subnucleus caudalis (Vc) and upper cervical spinal cord (C1-C2) were detected with immunohistochemical staining and Western blotting. pERK inhibitor, a selective mGluR5 antagonist or agonist was continuously administered for 7 days via an intrathecal (i.t.) route. Local inflammatory responses were verified by tongue histology. RESULTS: Submucosal injection of CFA into the tongue produced a long-lasting mechanical allodynia and heat hyperalgesia at the inflamed site, concomitant with an increase in the pERK immunoreactivity in the Vc and C1-C2. The distribution of pERK-IR cells was laminar specific, ipsilaterally dominant, somatotopically relevant, and rostrocaudally restricted. Western blot analysis also showed an enhanced activation of ERK in the Vc and C1-C2 following CFA injection. Continuous i.t. administration of the pERK inhibitor and a selective mGluR5 antagonist significantly depressed the mechanical allodynia and heat hyperalgesia in the CFA-injected tongue. In addition, the number of pERK-IR cells in ipsilateral Vc and C1-C2 was also decreased by both drugs. Moreover, continuous i.t. administration of a selective mGluR5 agonist induced mechanical allodynia in naive rats. CONCLUSIONS: The present study constructed a new animal model of inflammatory tongue pain in rodents, and demonstrated pivotal roles of the mGluR5-pERK signaling in the development of mechanical and heat hypersensitivity that evolved in the inflamed tongue. This tongue-inflamed model might be useful for future studies to further elucidate molecular and cellular mechanisms of pathological tongue pain such as burning mouth syndrome.

Neonatal lingual and gastrointestinal mucormycosis in a case of low anorectal malformation-a rare presentation.

We report a 1.7 kg male infant with a low anorectal malformation treated at an outside facility and referred to us on postoperative day 11. At presentation, his upper abdomen was distended, and he had perianal mucoid discharge. The tongue had a blackish discoloration. An erect abdominal radiograph showed a few fluid-filled bowel loops in the upper abdomen with a gasless lower abdomen and pelvis, suggestive of upper small bowel obstruction. There were no specific radiological features of necrotizing enterocolitis. He underwent laparotomy and bowel resection for perforated jejunum. Histopathology of the tissue specimen was suggestive of mucormycosis. Postoperatively, he received intravenous amphotericin B (liposomal) and was started on liquid enteral nutrition after 2 weeks. However, the anterior two thirds of his tongue gradually sloughed off. He is awaiting reconstruction of the tongue. The purpose of this report is to emphasize that physicians should have a high index of suspicion for oral and gastrointestinal tract mucormycosis in neonates with metabolic disturbances who present with a discolored oral mucosa and an abdominal mass with intestinal obstruction. Early diagnosis and an aggressive approach of combined medical and surgical treatment may improve the outcome of patients with this potentially lethal invasive disease.

Candida-associated denture stomatitis in type 2 diabetes mellitus.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the clinical appearance of Candida-associated denture stomatitis (DS) in subjects with type 2 diabetes (T2DM). The relationships between the types of DS, oral complaints and associated conditions were assessed in terms of glycemic control as determined by glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) measurements. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Demographic and clinical data were obtained from questionnaires and oral examinations of 110 edentulous patients with T2DM and 50 control subjects. RESULTS: Type II DS commonly occurred in diabetics (57.3% vs 30%; p=0.002) together with DS related oral complaints (60.9% vs 24%; p<0.001) compared with controls. Burning sensation of the mouth (BS) was the most common complaint. Dryness of the oral mucosa (DOM) (50.9% vs 6%; p<0.001), angular cheilitis (26.4% vs 8%; p=0.01) and glossitis (27.3% vs 6%; p=0.003) occurred more frequently in diabetics. Oral complaints and associated conditions of DS coincided with elevated HbA1c levels (p<0.001). Diabetics with extensive type of inflammation had higher HbA1c levels than type I/III DS subjects (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Diffuse type of inflammation was associated with T2DM. BS and DOM were the most common oral complaints. Inadequately controlled diabetes with Candida-associated DS was linked to a high incidence of an extensive type of inflammation, oral complaints and associated conditions.

Severe exfoliative erythema of malnutrition in a child with coexisting coeliac and Hartnup's disease.

Exfoliative erythema of malnutrition is a collective term for skin lesions caused by a combination of multiple deficiencies in vitamins, microelements, essential fatty acids and amino acids. We report a 3-year-old Iraqi girl with malnutrition due to coexisting coeliac and Hartnup's disease. On admission to hospital, she presented with kwashiorkor, anaemia, hepatitis and hypoalbuminia. She had severe skin changes with erythema, desquamation, erosions and diffuse hyperpigmentation involving the whole integument, particularly the perioral area, trunk and legs. She also had angular cheilitis, glossitis, conjunctivitis and diffuse alopecia. After treatment with a high-protein gluten-free diet and supplementation with vitamins and microelements there was a rapid improvement in the skin lesions. The severity of the skin lesions in this case can be explained by the coexistence of two metabolic diseases causing complex malnutrition.

[Primary and secondary stomatodynia: a difficult diagnosis]. / Stomatodynies primaire et secondaire : un diagnostic difficile.

Primary stomatodynia involves mainly women after menopause presenting somatization, depression and anxiety at values higher than control subjects. This chronic pain is often an intense burning pain beginning in the tongue the entire oral cavity, increasing in intensity through the day with a high level of emotional after effects. These patients often describe two associated symptoms: mouth dryness sensation and altered taste. The causes remain uncertain. The participation of female sexual hormones and neuropathic factors has been suggested possibly through a sensory neuropathy of small fibers of the oral mucosa. Normal clinical examinations and non clinical tests differentiate primary from secondary stomatodynia. The management consists in using low doses of topical clonazepam without swallowing or systemic clonazepam. The association of this drug with tricyclic antidepressants has given variable results. A cognitive behavioural management has been successfully attempted.

Diabetes mellitus as a contributory factor in oral candidosis.

It has been reported that poor glycaemic control predisposes to oral candidal infection in diabetic patients. For instance, the carriage of Candida species and the density of candidal growth in the oral cavity is frequently claimed to be increased in patients with diabetes mellitus. However, the validity of these observations remains controversial. Hence, we review and discuss here the clinical data in the literature on the relationship between diabetes and oral candidal carriage and infection, and possible mechanisms associated with its pathogenicity.

Clinical and biological features associated with taste loss in internal medicine patients. A cross-sectional study of 100 cases.

Which are the main features associated with taste loss in patients exposed to a wide range of drugs and diseases? In 100 consecutive patients admitted to a ward of internal medicine, we assessed taste complaints, performance status, alcohol and tobacco consumptions, diseases, drugs and laboratory data, measuring the electrical taste threshold as primary outcome. After adjusting for age, taste thresholds were not associated with sex, body mass index, tobacco, thrush, drugs, aliageusia and phantogeusia. Features associated with threshold increase included alcohol intake>or=10 gd-1, impaired performance status, complaint of taste loss, atrophic glossitis, cerebral disease, and an erythrocyte mean corpuscular volume. A multivariate analysis identified age, alcohol intake, complaint of loss or altered taste, mean corpuscular volume, and performance status as independent factors associated with taste loss. Inpatients may be screened for taste loss by a few features, to identify those for whom a nutritional intervention should be focused.

Kaposi's sarcoma of the tongue associated with median rhomboid glossitis in a non-AIDS patient. A case report.

Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) of the tongue is extremely rare in immunocompetent patients. We report a case of KS of the tongue associated with a median rhomboid glossitis. The main clinical, pathological and immunohistochemical features allowed the differential diagnosis.