Epidemiology of desquamative gingivitis: evaluation of 125 patients and review of the literature.
BACKGROUND
Desquamative gingivitis (DG) is a descriptive term used to indicate epithelial desquamation, erythema, erosions, and/or vesiculobullous lesions of the gingiva. DG is commonly associated with several mucocutaneous disorders and systemic conditions that may carry a poor prognosis and high morbidity; however, there are no clear data concerning the frequency of these disease associations.


METHODS
We investigated the epidemiologic features of DG in 125 patients and compared our findings with information from a literature review.


RESULTS
In our series, 88% of patients with DG had one of the following three disorders: oral lichen planus (OLP), mucous membrane pemphigoid (MMP), or pemphigus vulgaris. The most common cause of DG was OLP (75% of patients). 22% of patients had isolated gingival involvement, and there were diffuse gingival lesions in 57% of patients. Symptoms ranged from none (1%) to severe pain (10%). There was extra-oral involvement of skin in 14% of patients, conjunctiva in 7%, genital mucosa in 26%, and internal organs in 3%. Our study showed MMP to be associated with DG in only a small percentage of patients (9%); this finding may be related to the patient population, epidemiology of the specific disease, and referral and/or past diagnostic bias.


CONCLUSIONS
Based on our series and recent reports, OLP seems to be the most common cause of DG.
Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy. lorusso.lucio@tiscali.it
Lucio
L
Lo Russo
Gabriella
G
Fierro
Rosario
R
Guiglia
Domenico
D
Compilato
Nunzio Francesco
NF
Testa
Lorenzo
L
Lo Muzio
Giuseppina
G
Campisi
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005891:Gingivitis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055815:Young Adult