Abstract
Burning mouth syndrome (BMS) is a poorly understood oral pain disorder characterized by a painful burning sensation in the oral cavity without any mucosal abnormalities. In this study, we evaluated the salivary cortisol and chromogranin A (CgA) levels of patients with BMS in comparison with age-matched controls. Subjects (n = 114) included 81 BMS patients and 33 controls. Patients with BMS were further classified into a subgroup of subjects who occasionally feel a burning sensation (BMS 1), and a subgroup of subjects who always feel a burning sensation (BMS 2). Salivary cortisol and CgA levels were measured using ELISA kits. All individuals with BMS had significantly higher cortisol and CgA levels than the controls did. Furthermore, when comparing the controls with each BMS subgroup, salivary levels of cortisol were significantly higher in both subgroups than controls. In contrast, the level of CgA was significantly higher in the BMS 2 subgroup only. Multiple regression analysis revealed a significant independent association between salivary levels of cortisol and BMS even after adjustment for gender, antidepressant or antianxiety drug use and hypertension (drug-treated). The study revealed that a significant association was observed between salivary cortisol levels and BMS.
Highlights
Burning mouth syndrome (BMS) is a complex disease characterized by burning and/or painful sensations of the mouth, without accompanying abnormal clinical or laboratory findings [1]
Salivary flow rate was no differences in both, all subjects with BMS had significantly higher cortisol and chromogranin A (CgA) levels than the controls regarding to concentration
We compared between the controls and each BMS subgroup for salivary levels of cortisol and CgA
Summary
Burning mouth syndrome (BMS) is a complex disease characterized by burning and/or painful sensations of the mouth, without accompanying abnormal clinical or laboratory findings [1]. Symptoms are usually a burning sensation as well as taste disturbances and/or xerostomia [2]. In Japan, BMS has been reported in approximately 0.8% of patients who visit dental clinics [3]. Burning mouth complaints are reported more often in women, especially after menopause [4]. The etiology is poorly understood, the proposed etiological factors have been classified as local (oral candidiasis, parafunctional habits, allergy), systemic (diabetes, deficiency of iron, vitamin B12 and folate), psychogenic, and idiopathic [5]. The association between BMS and psychological stress has been little reported to date
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