title: Pathophysiology of primary burning mouth syndrome with special focus on taste dysfunction: a review.
abstract: Primary burning mouth syndrome (BMS) is a chronic oral condition characterized by burning pain often accompanied with taste dysfunction and xerostomia. The most compelling evidence concerning BMS pathophysiology comes from studies on the somatosensory system using neurophysiologic or psychophysical methods such as blink reflex, thermal quantitative sensory testing, as well as functional brain imaging. They have provided convincing evidence for neuropathic involvement at several levels of the somatosensory system in BMS pain pathophysiology. The number of taste function studies trying to substantiate the subjective taste disturbances or studies on salivary factors in BMS is much more limited, and most of them suffer from definitional and methodological problems. This review aims to critically evaluate the existing literature on the pathophysiology of BMS, paying special attention to the correctness of case selection and the methodology used in published studies, and to summarize the current state of knowledge. Based on the recognition of several gaps in the current understanding of the pathophysiology of BMS especially as regards taste and pain system interactions, the review ends with future scenarios for research in this area.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Diseases, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kolkka-Palomaa
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland.|Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Jääskeläinen
authors.affiliation: Institute of Dentistry, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Laine
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Diseases, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Teerijoki-Oksa
authors.affiliation: Functional Foods Forum, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.|Food Chemistry and Food Development, Department of Biochemistry, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sandell
authors.affiliation: Institute of Dentistry, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Forssell
mesh_terms: D002054:Burning Mouth Syndrome / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D010146:Pain / Q000503:physiopathology*; D017933:Peripheral Nervous System / Q000503:physiopathology; D012463:Saliva; D013651:Taste Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D055697:Taste Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D014987:Xerostomia / Q000209:etiology
keywords: pathophysiology; primary burning mouth syndrome; saliva; taste; taste dysfunction