RESUMO
INTRODUCTION: Eosinophilic ulcer (EU) is a rare pathology and its etiology is still slightly known. It is a benign lesion characterized by fast-growing ulceration with elevated and indurated borders, most commonly affecting the tongue. CASE REPORT: The authors describe a case of EU on a lingual border that was initiated and had its clinical behavior altered by the psychological stress the patient was experiencing. DISCUSSION: This paper discusses the stress effects that alter the individual's immunologic response, thus attracting mast cells and eosinophils towards the mucosal epithelium, which are involved in eosinophilic ulcer. The authors make an association between eosinophilic ulcer and atopic dermatitis, two diseases that appear to have a similar, though not fully defined, etiology. The psychological stress factor was considered a predisponent factor for eosinophilic ulcer etiology and its interference in the etiology and evolution of this disease should be considered.
Assuntos
Eosinofilia/psicologia , Úlceras Orais/psicologia , Estresse Psicológico/imunologia , Doenças da Língua/psicologia , Dor Abdominal/imunologia , Dor Abdominal/psicologia , Adulto , Carcinoma de Células Escamosas/diagnóstico , Diagnóstico Diferencial , Eosinofilia/imunologia , Seguimentos , Humanos , Masculino , Úlceras Orais/imunologia , Psiconeuroimunologia , Doenças da Língua/imunologia , Neoplasias da Língua/diagnósticoRESUMO
OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to evaluate salivary dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) levels, salivary flow rate (SFR), depression, and hopelessness in patients with the complaint of burning mouth (BM). STUDY DESIGN: Thirty female patients with BM and 30 age-matched control women without any complaint of burning mouth were enrolled. After anamnesis and oral examination, the salivary flow rate was determined. Depression and hopelessness were evaluated by the application of inventories. Two saliva samples were collected for DHEA analysis. RESULTS: Dysgeusia (P = .045) and xerostomia (P = .003) were significantly higher in the BM group. The BM patients showed significantly lower salivary flow rate, both under stimulation (P = .001) and at rest (P < .001). Significant differences between the groups were not found in the depression (P = .416) or hopelessness (P = .597) scores. The BM group revealed significantly lower salivary DHEA levels in the morning samples (P = .003). CONCLUSION: Patients with BM exhibit decreased morning salivary DHEA as well as dysgeusia and hyposalivation more frequently than control subjects. Additional investigations are needed to clarify this association.