BURNING MOUTH SYNDROME - THE ROLE OF CONTACT HYPERSENSITIVITY

The burning mouth syndrome is characterized by an unpleasant sensation of burning in the oral cavity, without clinical signs. Causal factors may be psychogenic, systemic or local. The aim of the study was to de termine the significance of contact allergy in the pathogenesis of bur ning mouth syndrome. Fifteen patients with burning mouth syndrome were studied through anamnesis and laboratory analysis. Epicutaneous patch tests were performed with the Italian standard series (GIRDCA - Grupp o Italiano di Ricerca Dermatiti da Contatto ed Ambientali), preservati ve and dental series. The same tests were carried out in 12 healthy ag e- and sex-matched subjects. The number of patients affected by burnin g mouth syndrome with a positive reaction to patchtesting was 6 out of 15, while the number of allergic patients in the control group was 3 out of 12. No association could be found between positive reaction at patchtesting and exposure to allergens. Contact allergy in burning mou th syndrome seems not to play a primary role; nevertheless, it is advi sable to perform patch tests in selected patients to identify a possib le aetiological agent.