Nicotine replacement therapy as a treatment for complex aphthosis.
Complex aphthosis, the occurrence of recurrent oral and genital aphthous ulceration without manifestations of systemic disease, is relatively uncommon and of unknown aetiology. We describe a case of complex aphthosis which began within weeks of stopping smoking. After failing to respond to conventional agents, the patient was successfully treated with nicotine lozenges. Recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) is known to be less common in smokers and there have been previous reports of nicotine being used as successful treatments for RAS and Behçet's disease. We discuss the mechanisms of action of nicotine whereby nicotine could influence the natural history of aphthous ulceration. We recommend considering its use when conventional management has failed, particularly in ex-smokers.
Hill
Samantha C
SC
The Tudor Centre for Sexual Health, The Hillingdon Hospital, Uxbridge, Middlesex, UK. dr_shill@yahoo.co.uk
Stavrakoglou
Anastasios
A
Coutts
Ian R
IR
D000328:Adult; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009538:Nicotine / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018722:Nicotinic Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012008:Recurrence; D013281:Stomatitis, Aphthous / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014029:Tobacco Use Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014845:Vulvar Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*
D018722:Nicotinic Agonists; D009538:Nicotine