Tongue lesions in psoriasis: a controlled study.
BACKGROUND
Our objective was to study tongue lesions and their significance in psoriatic patients.


METHODS
The oral mucosa was examined in 200 psoriatic patients presenting to Razi Hospital in Tehran, Iran, and 200 matched controls.


RESULTS
Fissured tongue (FT) and benign migratory glossitis (BMG) were the two most frequent findings. FT was seen more frequently in psoriatic patients (n = 66, 33%) than the control group (n = 19, 9.5%) [odds ratio (OR): 4.69; 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.61-8.52] (p-value < 0.0001). BMG, too, was significantly more frequent in psoriatic patients (28 cases, 14%) than the control group (12 cases, 6%) (OR: 2.55; 95% CI: 1.20-5.50) (p-value < 0.012). In 11 patients (5.5%), FT and BMG coexisted. FT was more frequent in pustular psoriasis (7 cases, 53.8%) than erythemato-squamous types (56 cases, 30.4%). On the other hand, the frequency of BMG increased with the severity of psoriasis in plaque-type psoriasis assessed by psoriasis area and severity index (PASI) score.


CONCLUSIONS
Nonspecific tongue lesions are frequently observed in psoriasis. Further studies are recommended to substantiate the clinical significance of these seemingly nonspecific findings in suspected psoriatic cases.
Daneshpazhooh
Maryam
M
Department of Dermatology, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, RAZI Hospital, Vahdate-Eslami Sq, 11966 Tehran, Iran. maryamdanesh@yahoo.com
Moslehi
Homayoon
H
Akhyani
Maryam
M
Etesami
Marjan
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014060:Tongue Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology