The Journal of Contemporary Dental Practice

Register      Login

SEARCH WITHIN CONTENT

FIND ARTICLE

Volume / Issue

Online First

Archive
Related articles

VOLUME 10 , ISSUE 2 ( March, 2009 ) > List of Articles

RESEARCH ARTICLE

A Case Report of Pernicious Anemia and Recurrent Aphthous Stomatitis

Ricardo Alves Mesquita, Bruna Gonçalves Garcia, Marcelo Ferreira Pinto Cardoso, Omar de Faria, Ricardo Santiago Gomez

Citation Information : Mesquita RA, Garcia BG, Cardoso MF, de Faria O, Gomez RS. A Case Report of Pernicious Anemia and Recurrent Aphthous Stomatitis. J Contemp Dent Pract 2009; 10 (2):83-89.

DOI: 10.5005/jcdp-10-2-83

License: CC BY-NC 3.0

Published Online: 01-04-2012

Copyright Statement:  Copyright © 2009; The Author(s).


Abstract

Aim

The aim of this report is to present the management of a patient with pernicious anemia afflicted with recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS).

Background

RAS is one of the most common lesions of the oral mucosa. Although the exact etiology of RAS is still unknown different hematinic deficiencies have been proposed.

Case Report

Painful recurrent ulcers covered with a grayish pseudomembrane surrounded by an erythematous margin were identified on the tongue and in the buccal mucosa of a 71-year-old woman. The patient also presented with depapilation of the tongue. The clinical diagnosis was RAS. Laboratory tests including a hemogram were ordered to determine existing levels of folic acid, iron, ferritin, and vitamins B2, B6, and B12. Levels of serum vitamin B12 and serum hemoglobin were low. The laboratory investigation also showed a medium corpuscular volume of 104.1 fl. A gastroduodenoscopy revealed no macroscopic abnormality. A gastric biopsy showed mucosal atrophy in the gastric corpus with evidence of intestinal metaplasia. Antibodies against an intrinsic factor were negative. The diagnosis pernicious anemia was made, with RAS caused by vitamin B12 malabsorption. Treatment consisted of the administration of 1.0 ml of hydroxocolabamin intramuscularly twice weekly over four weeks followed by 1.0 ml once weekly for four weeks. Clinical resolution was observed after two months.

Summary

The association of RAS with vitamin B12 malabsorption is a rare event. However, along with conventional RAS clinical management, iron, folic acid, vitamin B deficiencies, and nutritional intolerance must be considered. Evaluation of the predisposing factors is imperative in treating patients with RAS including vitamin B12 malabsorption.

Clinical Significance

Determination of the levels of vitamin B12 should be the basis for replacement therapy. Such therapy can be considered a benefit to the patients with RAS as its etiology remains unclear. Clinicians must be alert to the possibility this lesion could be a signal of systemic disease.

Citation

Garcia BG, Cardoso MFP, Faria O, Gomez RS, Mesquita RA. A Case Report of Pernicious Anemia and Recurrent Aphthous Stomatitis. J Contemp Dent Pract 2009 March; (10)2:083-089.


PDF Share
  1. Treatment stratagies for recurrent oral aphthous ulcers. Am J Health Syst Pharm. 2001; 58(1):41-50.
  2. Recurrent aphthous stomatitis. An update. Oral Sug Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radio Endod. 1996; 81(2):141-7.
  3. Recurrent aphthous stomatitis: current concepts of etiology, pathogenesis, and management. J Oral Pathol Med. 1989; 18(1):21-7.
  4. Neth J Med. 1998; 53(4):172-5.
  5. Imerslund-Grasbeck syndrome associated with recurrent aphthous stomatitis and defective neutrophil function. J Pediatr Hematol Oncol. 2006; 28(11):715-9.
  6. Staging and grading of chronic gastritis. Hum Pathol. 2005; 36(3):228-233.
  7. Recurrent aphtae treatment with vitamin B12, folic acid and iron. Br Med J. 1975; 2(5969):490-3.
  8. Serum iron, ferritin. Folic acid, and vitamin B12 levels in recurrent aphthous stomatitis. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2002; 16(1):66-7.
  9. Recurrent aphthous stomatitis: investigation of possible factors. Am J Otolaryngol. 2006; 27(4):229-32.
  10. Hematologic status in patients with recurrent aphthous stomatitis in Jordan. Saudi Med J. 2006; 27(3):381-4.
  11. Hematologic deficiencies in patients with recurrent oral aphtae. Med Clin (Barc). 1997; 109(3):85-7.
  12. The diagnosis and management of recurrent aphthous stomatitis: a consensus approach. J Am Dent Assoc. 2003; 134(2):200-7.
  13. Recurrent aphthous stomatitis: current etiopathogenetic and therapeutic concepts. Minerva Stomatol. 1995; 44(10):467-75.
  14. Recurrent Aphtous Stomatitis Clin Dermatol. 2000; 18(5):569-78.
  15. Topical and systemic therapy for recurrent aphtous stomatitis. Semin Cut Med Sur. 1997; 16(4):301-7.
PDF Share
PDF Share

© Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers (P) LTD.