Current Concepts in the Treatment of Recurrent Aphthous Stomatitis
Altenburg, MD; C.C. Zouboulis, MD
Abstract
The treatment of recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) still remains nonspecific and is based primarily on empirical data. The goals of therapy include the management of pain and functional impairment by suppressing inflammatory responses, as well as reducing the frequency of recurrences or avoiding the onset of new aphthae. For common forms of RAS, standard topical treatment options that provide symptomatic relief include analgesics, anesthetics, antiseptics, anti-inflammatory agents, steroids, sucralfate, tetracycline suspension, and silver nitrate. Dietary modifications may also support therapeutic measures. In resistant cases of benign aphthosis or aphthosis with systemic involvement, appropriate systemic treatment can be selected from a wide spectrum of immunomodulators that include colchicine, prednisolone, cyclosporine A, interferon-á, tumor necrosis factor-áantagonists, antimetabolites, and alkylating agents.
The treatment of recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) still remains nonspecific and is based primarily on empirical data. The goals of therapy include the management of pain and functional impairment by suppressing inflammatory responses, as well as reducing the frequency of recurrences or avoiding the onset of new aphthae. For common forms of RAS, standard topical treatment options that provide symptomatic relief include analgesics, anesthetics, antiseptics, anti-inflammatory agents, steroids, sucralfate, tetracycline suspension, and silver nitrate. Dietary modifications may also support therapeutic measures. In resistant cases of benign aphthosis or aphthosis with systemic involvement, appropriate systemic treatment can be selected from a wide spectrum of immunomodulators that include colchicine, prednisolone, cyclosporine A, interferon-á, tumor necrosis factor-áantagonists, antimetabolites, and alkylating agents.
Introduction
Idiopathic aphthae are the most frequently occurring inflammatory lesions of the oral mucous membrane. Nosologically,the condition is clearly defined, but the sores are often difficult to differentiate from heterogeneously similar aphthoid ulcerations and mucosal erosions. Episodic aphthous attacks are characterized by painful lesions that range from the size of a pinhead up to several centimeters. Fibrin covered ulcerations with a hyperemic halo are typically visible on the oral mucous membrane, but they rarely appear in the genital region. Spontaneous healing is possible after many years. Common simple aphthae, with 3-6 attacks per year, heal rapidly, are not very painful, and are restricted to the oral mucosa.
They can be differentiated from complex aphthae (less than 5% of aphthosis cases), which are recurrent, present with few to unusual multiple lesions, are extremely painful, heal slowly, and can also occur in the genital region. Complex aphthosis requires the accurate diagnosis of a possible causal or associated condition, such as anemia, cyclic neutropenia, folic acid or iron deficiency, ulcus vulvae acutum, aphthous-like ulcerations in HIV positive patients, gastrointestinal diseases, such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, and Adamantiades-Behcet Disease (ABD). In ABD, which represents a malignant form of aphthosis, there is an increase in both the frequency of occurrence and severity of lesions. The diagnosis of ABD is based on several clinical criteria sets, of which the International Study Group Criteria are the most frequently used and the New International Criteria are the most recent.
Topical Therapy
Dietary and General Measures
Certain foods should be avoided as they appear to trigger the eruption of new aphthae and prolong the course of the lesions (e.g., foods that are hard, acidic, salty, or spicy, as well as nuts, chocolate, citrus fruits, and alcoholic or carbonated beverages). In addition, because surfactants and detergents can cause irritation, dental care products containing sodium lauryl sulphate should be avoided.
Local Anesthetics
Pain relief can be attained using topical lidocaine 2% gel or spray, polidocanol adhesive dental paste, or benzocainelozenges. Available combination preparations include a pump spray with tetracaine and polidocanol, and a mouth rinsesolution that uses benzocaine and cetylpyridinium chloride as the active ingredients. As well, anesthetic-containingsolutions, e.g., a viscous lidocaine 2% solution, can be applied carefully on the lesions.
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Idiopathic aphthae are the most frequently occurring inflammatory lesions of the oral mucous membrane. Nosologically,the condition is clearly defined, but the sores are often difficult to differentiate from heterogeneously similar aphthoid ulcerations and mucosal erosions. Episodic aphthous attacks are characterized by painful lesions that range from the size of a pinhead up to several centimeters. Fibrin covered ulcerations with a hyperemic halo are typically visible on the oral mucous membrane, but they rarely appear in the genital region. Spontaneous healing is possible after many years. Common simple aphthae, with 3-6 attacks per year, heal rapidly, are not very painful, and are restricted to the oral mucosa.
They can be differentiated from complex aphthae (less than 5% of aphthosis cases), which are recurrent, present with few to unusual multiple lesions, are extremely painful, heal slowly, and can also occur in the genital region. Complex aphthosis requires the accurate diagnosis of a possible causal or associated condition, such as anemia, cyclic neutropenia, folic acid or iron deficiency, ulcus vulvae acutum, aphthous-like ulcerations in HIV positive patients, gastrointestinal diseases, such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, and Adamantiades-Behcet Disease (ABD). In ABD, which represents a malignant form of aphthosis, there is an increase in both the frequency of occurrence and severity of lesions. The diagnosis of ABD is based on several clinical criteria sets, of which the International Study Group Criteria are the most frequently used and the New International Criteria are the most recent.
Topical Therapy
Dietary and General Measures
Certain foods should be avoided as they appear to trigger the eruption of new aphthae and prolong the course of the lesions (e.g., foods that are hard, acidic, salty, or spicy, as well as nuts, chocolate, citrus fruits, and alcoholic or carbonated beverages). In addition, because surfactants and detergents can cause irritation, dental care products containing sodium lauryl sulphate should be avoided.
Local Anesthetics
Pain relief can be attained using topical lidocaine 2% gel or spray, polidocanol adhesive dental paste, or benzocainelozenges. Available combination preparations include a pump spray with tetracaine and polidocanol, and a mouth rinsesolution that uses benzocaine and cetylpyridinium chloride as the active ingredients. As well, anesthetic-containingsolutions, e.g., a viscous lidocaine 2% solution, can be applied carefully on the lesions.
DOWNLOAD COMPLETE PDF HERE
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