Geographic tongue: What is this disease?

Geographic tongue or benign migratory glossitis, is a unique and peculiar tongue condition, producing a map-like appearance with filiform papillae atrophy, on different parts of the tongue. The lesions change in shape with time. The exact etiology remains unknown, although it has been suggested relating the lingual microbiota of a patient. The association between geographic tongue and psoriasis has long been pointed out, and histological similarities existed between both as well. Increasingly, recent findings suggest the involvement of certain oral bacteria. Here, we discuss these findings with an overview of the recent literature.

Oral manifestations in patients diagnosed with psoriasis: A systematic review.

AIMS: To identify the main types of oral lesions associated with psoriasis. METHODS AND RESULTS: It was a systematic review, based on a search performed in the PubMed/Medline, and Scielo databases, and an associated manual search. Descriptors were selected from DeCs/MeSH and the PICOS strategy (population, intervention, comparison, outcomes, and study design) was applied. Randomized clinical trials and retrospective and prospective studies published from 2000 to 2022 were included, according to the PRISMA parameters (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis), registered in the PROSPERO platform. The STROBE quality scale (Strengthening the Reporting of Observational studies in Epidemiology) was also used. One hundred fourteen articles were identified using the search strategy, and nine articles were found in the manual search. Of the sixty-six preselected articles, seven were included in the study. Although it was not possible to identify a specific oral lesion associated with psoriasis, there was a greater occurrence of geographic tongue, fissured tongue, and Candida sp. infection CONCLUSION: Evidence shows that although patients with psoriasis may exhibit lesions in the oral mucosa, they are not specific to this condition. Further epidemiological studies are needed to address the association of psoriasis with possible changes in the oral mucosa.

Investigation of oral atopic diseases: Correlation between geographic tongue and fungiform papillary glossitis.

INTRODUCTION: The correlation between oral lesions and atopy is not new, but few studies have investigated the prevalence of mucosal changes in diseases within the atopic spectrum, leading to conflicting data. Some studies found a possible relationship between geographic tongue, transient lingual papillitis and atopic diseases. AIM: To investigate the frequency of geographic tongue and fungiform papillary glossitis in patients with atopic diseases, and its correlation with serum IgE levels and skin test results. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The sample was comprised of participants with atopic diseases paired with participants who received negative puncture skin tests. All were submitted to stomatological and medical evaluations, prick test and oral cytopathological. RESULTS: The female sex was more numerous in both groups. Mean age was 21 years. A total of 60 diagnoses of atopic diseases were obtained, with allergic rhinitis being the most prevalent. Fungiform papillary glossitis was the most frequent oral lesion in both groups, while geographic tongue was present in 2 cases (2%) in the test group and 2 (2%) in the control group. Atopic patients with fungiform papillary glossitis presented high serum IgE levels. In atopic patients with geographic tongue, the prick test positively identified extracts of Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (100%) and Dermatophagoides farinae (100%). CONCLUSION: Due to the low frequency of geographic tongue lesions found in the study, it is no possible to conclude if that could be an oral manifestation of atopy. However fungiform papillary glossitis is a common alteration in atopic and non-atopic patients and has a relationship with high IgE serum levels. However, the consolidation of this result requires a larger sample size.

Association between geographic tongue and psoriasis: A systematic review and meta-analyses.

Geographic tongue (GT) has been described as a predictor of psoriasis. The objective of this study was to analyse the prevalence of GT in psoriatic and non-psoriatic patients. For this purpose, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis. A literature search was performed on PubMed, Embase, Web of Science and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. The search and selection process was performed according to the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) criteria. Only case-control studies were selected, and the prevalence of GT in both groups was compared. Eleven articles met the inclusion criteria, and the frequency of GT was statistically associated with psoriasis in ten studies. The pooled odds ratio (OR) was 3.53 (95% confidence interval [CI] 2.56-4.86). There were no significant differences between the presence of GT and the clinical form. However, the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) score was statistically higher in patients affected by GT in three of four studies. Psoriatic patients with GT also exhibited less improvement in the PASI score after treatment. One study found an association between GT and a negative impact on patients' quality of life. Nevertheless, age, gender, toxic habits, psoriasis onset and duration of the disease were not clearly associated. The results support the concept of GT as a manifestation of psoriasis. Future research should focus on the repercussions of GT in psoriatic patients, due to the negative consequences on severity and treatment response.

Mutations in IL36RN are associated with geographic tongue.

Geographic tongue (GT) is a benign inflammatory disorder of unknown etiology. Epidemiology and histopathology in previous studies found that generalized pustular psoriasis (GPP) is a factor associated with GT, but the molecular mechanism remains obscure. To investigate the mechanism of GT, with and without GPP, three cohorts were recruited to conduct genotyping of IL36RN, which is the causative gene of GPP. In a family spanning three generations and diagnosed with only GT ("GT alone"), GT was caused by the c.115+6T>C/p.Arg10ArgfsX1 mutation in the IL36RN gene. An autosomal dominant inheritance pattern with incomplete penetrance was observed. In the cohort consisting of sporadic cases of "GT alone" (n = 48), significant associations between GT and three IL36RN variants (c.115+6T>C/p.Arg10ArgfsX1, c.169G>A/p.Val57Ile and c.29G>A/p.Arg10Gln) were shown. In the GPP patient cohort (n = 56) and GPP family member cohort (n = 67), a significant association between the c.115+6T>C mutation and the simultaneous presence of GPP and GT was observed when compared to the presence of GPP without GT (P < 0.05). Biopsies revealed similarities among GT patients with different genotypes (AA, Aa and aa), with the neutrophils prominently infiltrating the epidermis. Western-blot analysis showed that the expression ratio of IL-36Ra/IL-36γ in lesioned tongues with individuals harboring different genotypes (AA, Aa and aa, n = 3, respectively) decreased significantly compared to controls (n = 3). We describe the mechanism of GT for the first time: some cases of GT are caused by IL36RN mutations, while those lacking mutations are associated with an imbalance in expression between IL-36Ra and IL-36γ proteins in tongue tissue.

Geographic tongue and psoriasis: clinical, histopathological, immunohistochemical and genetic correlation - a literature review.

Geographic tongue is a chronic, inflammatory, and immune-mediated oral lesion of unknown etiology. It is characterized by serpiginous white areas around the atrophic mucosa, which alternation between activity, remission and reactivation at various locations gave the names benign migratory glossitis and wandering rash of the tongue. Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory disease with frequent cutaneous involvement and an immunogenetic basis of great importance in clinical practice. The association between geographic tongue and psoriasis has been demonstrated in various studies, based on observation of its fundamental lesions, microscopic similarity between the two conditions and the presence of a common genetic marker, human leukocyte antigen (HLA) HLA-C*06. The difficulty however in accepting the diagnosis of geographic tongue as oral psoriasis is the fact that not all patients with geographic tongue present psoriasis. Some authors believe that the prevalence of geographic tongue would be much greater if psoriatic patients underwent thorough oral examination. This study aimed to develop a literature review performed between 1980 and 2014, in which consultation of theses, dissertations and selected scientific articles were conducted through search in Scielo and Bireme databases, from Medline and Lilacs sources, relating the common characteristics between geographic tongue and psoriasis. We observed that the frequency of oral lesions is relatively common, but to establish a correct diagnosis of oral psoriasis, immunohistochemical and genetic histopathological analyzes are necessary, thus highlighting the importance of oral examination in psoriatic patients and cutaneous examination in patients with geographic tongue.

Geographic tongue and psoriasis: clinical, histopathological, immunohistochemical and genetic correlation - a literature review

Abstract: Geographic tongue is a chronic, inflammatory, and immune-mediated oral lesion of unknown etiology. It is characterized by serpiginous white areas around the atrophic mucosa, which alternation between activity, remission and reactivation at various locations gave the names benign migratory glossitis and wandering rash of the tongue. Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory disease with frequent cutaneous involvement and an immunogenetic basis of great importance in clinical practice. The association between geographic tongue and psoriasis has been demonstrated in various studies, based on observation of its fundamental lesions, microscopic similarity between the two conditions and the presence of a common genetic marker, human leukocyte antigen (HLA) HLA-C*06. The difficulty however in accepting the diagnosis of geographic tongue as oral psoriasis is the fact that not all patients with geographic tongue present psoriasis. Some authors believe that the prevalence of geographic tongue would be much greater if psoriatic patients underwent thorough oral examination. This study aimed to develop a literature review performed between 1980 and 2014, in which consultation of theses, dissertations and selected scientific articles were conducted through search in Scielo and Bireme databases, from Medline and Lilacs sources, relating the common characteristics between geographic tongue and psoriasis. We observed that the frequency of oral lesions is relatively common, but to establish a correct diagnosis of oral psoriasis, immunohistochemical and genetic histopathological analyzes are necessary, thus highlighting the importance of oral examination in psoriatic patients and cutaneous examination in patients with geographic tongue.

The practical evaluation and management of patients with symptoms of a sore burning mouth.

There are many etiologic factors to consider in a patient who presents with symptoms or sensations of a sore burning mouth. These range from local causes within the oral cavity to underlying systemic disease, including psychologic factors. This paper aims to describe the different clinical presentations and to outline a systematic approach to the evaluation and management of such patients. The clinician will be directed to the relevant diagnosis by following the traditional medical model of taking a focused history, performing a thorough clinical examination, considering the potential differential diagnoses, and requesting pertinent and appropriate investigations. The various differential diagnoses and broad treatment options will also be discussed and outlined. This paper will not, however, discuss burning mouth syndrome (oral dysesthesia), which is a diagnosis of exclusion, whereby the oral mucosa is clinically normal and there are no identifiable medical or dental causes to account for the patient's symptoms.

Prevalence of Geographic tongue and Related Predisposing Factors in 7-18 Year-Old Students in Kermanshah, Iran 2014.

Geographic tongue is a benign lesion at the dorsum and margins of the tongue that sometimes causes pain and burning sensation. This lesion is characterized by an erythematous area with white or yellow folded edges. The predisposing factors of this lesion include heredity, allergies, psoriasis, stress, fissured tongue and consumption of some foods. The present study was conducted to investigate the prevalence of geographic tongue and its related factors among the 7-18 year-old students in Kermanshah, Iran. This descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out in three schools in Kermanshah using multi-stage random cluster sampling method. A total number of 3600 students were examined (1800 girls and 1800 boys). Demographic data and the results of examinations were recorded in a questionnaire. The factors affecting the incidence of geographic tongue were analyzed by the SPSS-20 software and the Chi-square test.The prevalence of geographic tongue was 7.86% (283 individuals). The incidence of this lesion was significantly higher in males than in females (p<0.01). There was no relationship between geographic tongue and psoriasis or fissured tongue.  Pain and discomfort during eating was more prevalent in those with geographic tounge compared to those without this condition (p<0.02). The prevalence of geographic tongue among the studied population was 7.86%, and the prevalence of geographic tongue in male students was higher than in female students.

Evidence assessments and guideline recommendations in Lyme disease: the clinical management of known tick bites, erythema migrans rashes and persistent disease.

Evidence-based guidelines for the management of patients with Lyme disease were developed by the International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society (ILADS). The guidelines address three clinical questions - the usefulness of antibiotic prophylaxis for known tick bites, the effectiveness of erythema migrans treatment and the role of antibiotic retreatment in patients with persistent manifestations of Lyme disease. Healthcare providers who evaluate and manage patients with Lyme disease are the intended users of the new ILADS guidelines, which replace those issued in 2004 (Exp Rev Anti-infect Ther 2004;2:S1-13). These clinical practice guidelines are intended to assist clinicians by presenting evidence-based treatment recommendations, which follow the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation system. ILADS guidelines are not intended to be the sole source of guidance in managing Lyme disease and they should not be viewed as a substitute for clinical judgment nor used to establish treatment protocols.

Neutrophil extracellular traps entrap and kill Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto spirochetes and are not affected by Ixodes ricinus tick saliva.

Lyme disease is caused by spirochetes of the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato complex. They are transmitted mainly by Ixodes ricinus ticks. After a few hours of infestation, neutrophils massively infiltrate the bite site. They can kill Borrelia via phagocytosis, oxidative burst, and hydrolytic enzymes. However, factors in tick saliva promote propagation of the bacteria in the host even in the presence of a large number of neutrophils. The neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) consists in the extrusion of the neutrophil's own DNA, forming traps that can retain and kill bacteria. The production of reactive oxygen species is apparently associated with the onset of NETs (NETosis). In this article, we describe NET formation at the tick bite site in vivo in mice. We show that Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto spirochetes become trapped and killed by NETs in humans and that the bacteria do not seem to release significant nucleases to evade this process. Saliva from I. ricinus did not affect NET formation by human neutrophils or its stability. However, it greatly decreased neutrophil reactive oxygen species production, suggesting that a strong decrease of hydrogen peroxide does not affect NET formation. Finally, round bodies trapped in NETs were observed, some of them staining as live bacteria. This observation could help contribute to a better understanding of the early steps of Borrelia invasion and erythema migrans formation after tick bite.

Benign migratory glossitis with fissured tongue.

Symptomatic benign migratory glossitis (BMG) or "geographic tongue" is a rare occurrence in pediatric dentistry though asymptomatic BMG is comparatively common. BMG presents itself as an ulcer-like region on the dorsum of the tongue, which may recur at different sites on the tongue, creating a migratory appearance. Asymptomatic cases usually resolve on their own but symptomatic cases need treatment. Fissured tongue is a benign condition characterized by deep grooves on the dorsum of the tongue and, in many cases, is associated with geographic tongue. This article presents a case of symptomatic geographic tongue with fissured tongue with a history of asthma.

Associations of HLA DR and DQ molecules with Lyme borreliosis in Latvian patients.

BACKGROUND: Many autoimmune diseases are associated with variants of HLA genes such as those encoding the MHC complex. This correlation is not absolute, but may help in understanding of the molecular mechanism of disease. The purpose of this study was to determine HLA-DR,-DQ alleles in Latvian patients with Lyme borreliosis and control (healthy) persons. Case patients and control subjects were similar in age, gender and ethnic heritage and differed only as regards the presence of Borrelia burgdorferi infection. The study included 25 patients with clinical stage - erythema migrans and 30 control (healthy) persons. HLA genotyping was performed by PCR with sequence-specific primers. RESULTS: The results show difference in HLA-DRB1 alleles distribution between patients and control subjects. The frequencies of HLA-DRB1 *04 (OR 11.24; p < 0.007) and HLA-DRB1 *17 (03) (OR 8.05; p < 0.033) were increased in the Lyme disease patients. And the frequency of allele DRB1*13 (OR 0.12; p < 0.017) was lower in Borreliosis patients and higher in control group. But, significant differences in frequencies of HLA-DQ alleles we did not detect. CONCLUSIONS: HLA predisposition to Lyme borreliosis appears not to be limited to HLA molecules, but some HLA-DR alleles also have a significant influence, and, may have implications in our understanding of pathogenesis of this disease. In particular, HLA-DRB1*04 and DRB1 *17 (03) may contribute to the Lyme borreliosis development in Latvian population.

Psoriasis and oral lesions: multicentric study of Oral Mucosa Diseases Italian Group (GIPMO).

OBJECTIVE: This is a multicentric, observational and controlled study designed to verify the existence of a significant association between plaque-type psoriasis and oral lesions, such as geographic tongue and/or fissured tongue. STUDY DESIGN: during a period of 9 months all consecutive patients with plaque-type psoriasis were enrolled using simple nonrandom (sequential) sampling. The control group included healthy subjects presenting to the same Dermatology centers to monitor pigmented skin lesions; the patients were matched for age and sex. All patients were examined for oral lesions. RESULTS: Out of a total of 535 psoriatic patients and 436 control group patients, oral mucosal lesions were detected in 188 (35.1%) and 86 (19.7%) cases, respectively, and the difference is statistically significant. Fissured tongue (FT) and geographic tongue (GT), which were most frequently detected, were seen more frequently in psoriatic patients (FT: 22.6%; GT: 9.1%) than the control group (FT: 10.3%; GT: 5.2%) (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: On the basis of the similar studies reported in the literature and the large number of patients involved in our study, we can conclude that FT and GT can be clearly suggested as oral manifestations of plaque-type psoriasis, although the reason for this association is not clear.

Taste evaluation in adolescents and pediatric patients with benign migratory glossitis.

OBJECTIVE: Benign migratory glossitis (BMG) is a disease that affects the tongue and is considered an inflammatory disorder well recognized. It is characterized by the appearance of erosive areas on the dorsum and lateral border of the tongue that can be isolated or multiple. The aim of this study was to assess whether the perception of taste to the four basic tastes is altered due to the presence of BMG. METHODS: Forty individuals of both sexes with a mean age of 12.1 years were divided into two groups (20 BMG patients and 20 healthy controls) and had their taste function assessed in relation to four basic tastes: bitter, sour, sweet, and salty. RESULTS: All participants in the case group exhibited lesions over the dorsum, edges and tip of the tongue with a possible extension to the surface below. No statistic difference was observed between BMG patients and controls for the taste scores (Mann-Whitney U test: P=0.0955). The percentage of correctly identified taste strips for the highest concentrations was 100% for all tastes. For the lowest concentrations it was 85% for sweet, 50% for sour, 95% for salty, and 95% for bitter. Three patients with BMG and three control subjects showed hypogeusia. CONCLUSION: This study revealed that BMG is not able to change the perception of taste for salty, sweet, sour and bitter.