title: Clinical features of gingival lesions in patients with dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa: a cross-sectional study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Gingival lesions in patients with dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (DEB) are a common manifestation. However, their clinical features, frequency and severity are currently unknown.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-five DEB patients were assessed by an oral medicine specialist, who analysed the presence/absence of four clinical signs (erythema, erosion/ulcer, atrophy, blister) on free and attached gingiva, using the Epidermolysis Bullosa Oropharyngeal Severity score.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-eight (62.2%) out of 45 DEB patients showed different types of gingival lesions, whose presence/absence and total frequency/distribution were not significantly different between males and females (p=0.087 and p=0.091, respectively). Erythema was the most prevalent lesion (66.2%) and the recessive DEB severe generalized (RDEB-sev gen) reached the highest median disease activity score. A significant correlation was observed between the DEB subtypes and the disease activity median score (p<0.001), but not between age and total disease activity score in each group of DEB (p>0.05). Lastly, logistic regression showed that only gender (p=0.031) and RDEB-sev gen (p=0.001) were risks factors for the presence of gingival lesions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Gingival lesions in DEB patients are a relatively common entity and may have multiple clinical aspects, emphasizing the need for thorough attention and awareness among dentists.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Medicine, Carolinas Medical Center, Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; DebRA Mexico Foundation, Guadalupe, Nuevo León, Mexico.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fortuna
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aria
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cepeda-Valdes
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pollio
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Moreno-Trevino
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Salas-Alanís
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001768:Blister / Q000473:pathology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D016108:Epidermolysis Bullosa Dystrophica / Q000145:classification / Q000473:pathology*; D004890:Erythema / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005882:Gingival Diseases / Q000145:classification / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019226:Oral Ulcer / Q000473:pathology; D055093:Periodontal Atrophy / Q000473:pathology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: EB; disease activity; epidermolysis bullosa; oral hygiene; treatment