Burning mouth syndrome: an evaluation of in vivo microcirculation.
BACKGROUND
Burning mouth syndrome (BMS) is an atypical orofacial algesic syndrome. The aim of the authors' research was to investigate the morphological characteristics of peripheral blood circulation in patients with BMS in comparison with those of the peripheral blood circulation in healthy people.


METHODS
The authors examined 28 subjects, of whom 14 (10 women and four men) had BMS and 14 (nine women and five men) were healthy control subjects. They performed videocapillaroscopic examination with a capillaroscope with a fiber-optic probe at a magnification of x200, which allowed them to examine the morphological characteristics within the capillaroscopic area accurately.


RESULTS
The capillaroscopic examination provided important diagnostic results regarding alterations of the local microcirculation in subjects with BMS when compared with healthy subjects. The results also showed a statistically significant increase in the diameter of the capillary ansae, afferent ansae and efferent ansae in subjects with BMS compared with subjects in the control group (P = .05).


CONCLUSIONS
The results revealed a vascular involvement in BMS. This information could improve the understanding of etiopathogenetic factors and aid in the development of therapeutic strategies for treating this disorder.
Scardina
Giuseppe Alessandro
GA
University of Palermo, Department of Oral Sciences G Messina, Via Del Vespro, Palermo, Italy. scardina@odonto.unipa.it
Pisano
Teresa
T
Carini
Francesco
F
Valenza
Vincenzo
V
Messina
Pietro
P
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002054:Burning Mouth Syndrome / Q000473:pathology*; D002196:Capillaries / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005336:Fiber Optic Technology / Q000295:instrumentation; D005881:Gingiva / Q000098:blood supply; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007742:Labial Frenum / Q000098:blood supply; D008297:Male; D008833:Microcirculation / Q000473:pathology; D020678:Microscopic Angioscopy / Q000295:instrumentation; D018715:Microscopy, Video / Q000295:instrumentation; D008875:Middle Aged; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000098:blood supply*; D055100:Optical Fibers; D014059:Tongue / Q000098:blood supply