clinical characteristics and management outcome in the ... · volume 72 number 2 table ii. sites of...
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Reprinted from ORAL SURGERY, ORAL MEDICINE, AND ORAL PATHOLOGY, St. Louis Vol. 72, No.2, PP. 192-195, Augult, 1991 (Printed in the U.S.A.) (Copyright o 1991 by Moaby-Ycar Book, Inc.)
Clinical characteristics and management outcome in the burning mouth syndrome An open study of 130 patients
Meir Gorsky, DMD,a Sol Silverman Jr., DDS, MA,b and Henry Chinn, DDS, MS.C San Francisco, Calif.
DIVISION OF ORAL MEDICINE, UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO
Clinical characteristics and treatment responses were studied in 130 patients with burning mouth syndrome (BMS). Most patients were postmenopausal women, and the tongue was the most frequently afflicted site. Although 39% of the patients complained of dry mouth, no causative factors were evident. Therefore BMS is assumed to be a functional disorder. This was at least partially confirmed because the most effective management was in response to mood-altering drugs. From our data BMS appears to be a chronic condition with variations in symptoms among patients and without a predictable endpoint. (ORAL SURG ORAL MED ORAL PATHOL 1991;72:192-5)
Our previous report I on patients with the burning mouth syndrome (BMS) described 98 persons, of whom postmenopausal women comprised more than three fourths of the group. The tongue was involved alone or with other oral sites in 78% of the patients. Besides the occurrence of glossitis migrans in 15%, no other mucosal lesions were evident. Psychogenesis appeared to be the most important etiologic factor. Other contributory factors included xerostomia and oral candidiasis. The roles of dentures, anemia, hypertension, allergies, and hyperglycemia were uncertain.
The purpose of this prospective open study was to further describe clinical characteristics of this complex syndrome and to record some treatment responses in a prospective open approach. This would then form the basis for a rigidly designed prospective study to assess therapeutic efficacy.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
One hundred thirty patients who were referred to the Oral Medicine Clinic, University of California, San Francisco, for evaluation and management of BMS comprised the study group. Medical histories, oral examinations, and laboratory tests were obtained or performed. Minimal tests included complete blood
•Visiting Postdoctoral Scholar; Associate Professor, Sackler School of Dental Medicine, Tel Aviv, Israel. bProfessor and Chairman. °Ciinical Professor. 7/13/23282
192
Table I. Demographics of 130 patients with BMS
Gender
F M
n
IOI 29
Age (yr)
Mean I 59 54
Range
25-87 25-79
Smokers(%)
I6 IO
cell counts, fasting blood sugar levels, and fungal (Candida) cultures. Table I describes the predominantly female and elderly composition of the patients together with their smoking habits. All patients were followed prospectively for treatment andfor observation. Medications were prescribed, in an attempt to evaluate oral symptoms, on the basis of findings, previous drug use, and patient input as to alternative treatment approaches.
RESULTS
Although the burning can involve any mucosal site, the tongue was by far the most commonly reported site, either alone or when multiple sites were involved (Table II). Aside from a relatively common complaint of mouth dryness {39%), no other correlative factors were evident {Table III). Although 28% had positive fungal cultures, clinically there was no evidence of candidiasis or other relevant mucosal lesions.
Table IV describes the various treatment approaches used to modify patient complaints. Medications tried before referral were not reinstated, thereby accounting for the variable number of drugs used in
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Table II. Sites of burning in 130 patients
Tongue Other* or
Burning mouth syndrome 193
Frequency of symptomatic oral site(%)
Gender only multiple sites Tongue I Hard palate I Lips I Othert
F 37 64 M II 18
Total 48 82
•Four women and two men had burning in either hps or hard palate only. tBuccal and )JbiJI mucosa, soft palate, mouth Ooor.
Table Ill. Findings in 130 patients with BMS
72 24 28 37 70 28 10 34 72 25 24 36
Cardiovascular Positive Candida Site Xerostomia (%) medications (%) culture (%) Diabetes (%) Anemia(%)
Tongue only 48 43 33 44 9 4 Multiple or other sites 82 36 24 19 5 0
Total 130 39 28 28 7 2
Table IV. Prescribed medications and outcome
Outcome(%) No. of
Complete remission I I I No change I Drug* patients Marked benefit Slight benefit Worse
Chlordiazepoxide (Librium) 78 14 35 15 36 0 Antifungal agents 37 0 35 3 59 3 Amitriptyline (Elavil) 26 0 II 8 73 8 Prednisone 16 0 13 12 75 0 Pilocarpine II 0 36 0 55 9 Vitamin B complex 8 0 0 0 100 0 Diazepam (Valium) 6 33 33 0 33 0
0 Not given 10 Jny >pccml order when prescribed; not used if administered before study and of no benefit.
patient treatment. Chlordiazepoxide (Librium) in dosages of 5 to 10 mg three times daily was the most frequently prescribed and most effective drug. The order of administration did not appear to influence the response (Table V).
In patients who elected to continue daily chlordiazepoxide for longer periods of time, there did not seem to be a relative advantage regarding alterations in symptoms (Table VI). The results with diazepam (Valium) (6 to 15 mgjday in six patients) were similar to those given chlordiazepoxide. Despite the relatively common complaint of dryness, salivary stimulation by systemic administration of a pilocarpine hydrochloride solution (5 mg four times daily) was not helpful in most patients with xerostomia.
DISCUSSION
BMS describes a variety of chronic oral symptoms that often increase in intensity at the end of each day and that seldom interfere with sleep. The main manifestation is a burning sensation at one or more oral
Table v. Assessment of chlordiazepoxide outcome and order of administration
Chlordiazepoxide administered as
first drug
++ I + 0
Gender n (%) (%) (%)
F 37 14 43 43 M 18 33 45 22
Total 55 20 44 36
All chlordiazepoxide trials irrespective
of order used
++ + n (%) (%)
54 9 50 24 29 54 78 IS 52
0 (%)
41 17 33
++, Complete remi»ion ; +.some benefit; 0, no change.
sites and is usually accompanied by a variety of complaints that may include dryness and an altered or disturbing "taste." BMS almost always diminishes the patient's perceived quality of life. The magnitude of disturbance can vary from a slight annoyance to complete functional disruption.
This current study confirms our previous observa-
194 Gorsky, Silverman, and Chinn ORAL SURG ORAL MED ORAL PATHOL August 1991
Table VI. Patient outcome and length of chlordiazepoxide treatment
Up to I mo
Site n + ±
Tongue 22 6 Multiple and other sites 56 5 16
Total 78 6 22
+, Complete remission: ±, some benefit; 0, no change.
tions of the primary occurrence in postmenopausal women, the tongue as the most frequent site, and lack of evident causative systemic explanation: This· finding is similar to those of other authors who have studied BMS.2- 16 Interestingly, 39% of our patients complained of xerbstomia. Although about one third benefited from salivary gland stimulation with a sialogogue, most patients did not benefit. Therefore the cause-effect relationship of xerostomia to BMS remains unclear. 17•19 Because causative organic factors have not been consistently identified, it is assumed that BMS, at least in most patients, is a functional disorder entailing psychologic, emotional, and neurologic dysfunctions.20-23
Because the most effective management is found in response to mood-altering drugs, a major behavioral component appears to be confirmed. This also has been concluded by other investigators. The primary psychopharmacologic drug used in this group was chlordiazepoxide. Although its mechanism of action is unknown, in low dosages it has been shown to relieve anxiety. In higher dosages it also has sedative and weak analgesic effects. In animals its action has been shown to be on the limbic system, which is involved in emotional responses. Specifically, chlordiazepoxide has been shown to alter behavior in monkeys and rats.
In some of our patients the benefits of treatment persisted after discontinuation of therapy; in others continuous or intermittent treatment was necessary. In those who did not respond to our conventional pharmacologic approaches, other modalities were not helpful. These have included hypnosis, acupuncture, psychotherapy, biofeedback, and various types of local injections (i.e., local anesthetics). Our present study does not report long-term outcome; however, the long-term, steady-state chronicity of BMS further supports a functional or behavioral basis. Although a "burnout" phase has been indicated by some investigators, 24 this has not been confirmed by others nor is such an endpoint predictable.
It is evident that a long-term, controlled, prospec-
1-2 mo >2 mo
0 + ± 0 + ± 0
3 I 4 2 2 2 16 2 6 3 I 6 I 19 3 10 5 3 8 2
tive study is required, preferably with a multi-institutional base, to clarify this relatively common enigma that frequently alters the quality of life for those affected.
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Burning mouth syndrome 195
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Reprint requests: Sol Silverman Jr., DDS, MA School of Dentistry, Box 0432 University of California, San Francisco San Francisco, CA 94143