HEALTH NEWS

Study Title:

Peripheral nervous system involvement in primary burning mouth syndrome - results of a pilot study.

Study Abstract

OBJECTIVE:
The pathophysiology of primary burning mouth syndrome (BMS) has remained enigmatic, but recent studies suggest pathology within the nervous system at multiple levels. This study aimed to investigate in detail the contribution of either focal or generalized alterations within the peripheral nervous system (PNS) in the etiopathogenesis of BMS.
SUBJECTS AND METHODS:
Intraepithelial nerve fiber density (IENFD) of tongue mucosa was assessed in 10 carefully characterized BMS patients, and the results were compared to 19 age- and gender-matched cadaver controls; 6 with lifetime diabetes. Extensive neurophysiologic and psychophysical examinations of the trigeminal system and distal extremities were performed to profile PNS function in BMS.
RESULTS:
BMS patients had significantly fewer intraepithelial nerve fibers (0,27, SE 0,18 /mm; p=0.0253) than non-diabetic controls (0,92, SE 0,15/mm). In the subepithelial space, the amount of nerve fibers did not differ between the groups. The majority (9/10) of BMS patients showed neurophysiologic or psychophysical signs of a more generalized PNS dysfunction.
CONCLUSIONS:
Our results in neurophysiologically optimally characterized BMS patients confirm that pure focal small fiber neuropathy of the oral mucosa has a role in the pathophysiology of primary BMS. Furthermore, BMS may be related to a more generalized, yet subclinical peripheral neuropathy. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
KEYWORDS:
burning mouth syndrome; intraepithelial nerve fiber density; peripheral neuropathy; small fiber neuropathy