COMMON ALLERGIES AND ALLERGENS IN ORAL AND PERIORAL DISEASES.

Allergic reactions sometimes participate in the development of perioral and oral diseases, indicating the need for appropriate allergen assessment. This review discusses current knowledge on the potential allergic reactions to different dental materials in patients with oral and perioral diseases. Aside from allergies to various dental materials, similar non-allergic, non-immune contact reactions (irritant or toxic) can occur. Among dental materials, the most frequent allergens are alloys, followed by rubber materials, polymers and acrylates. Allergic reactions to dental alloys that contain nickel, cobalt and amalgam are especially frequent since dentists use them for prosthetic and other restorations. There is a broad spectrum of clinical presentations of oral and perioral diseases possibly related to allergies, such as lichenoid reactions, cheilitis, perioral dermatitis, burning sensations, etc. Despite some limitations, patch test is crucial in the diagnosis and recognition of causative allergens because it reveals contact allergies, and is still superior in differentiating allergic and irritant contact reactions. It is important to examine patient medical histories (e.g., occurrence of symptoms after dental therapy or food consumption), and in consultation with their dentist, carry out allergy tests to specific dental allergens which are used or planned to be used in subsequent treatment.

Oral lichen planus - retrospective study of 563 Croatian patients

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of oral lichen planus (OLP) in a group of Croatian patients seen between 2006 and 2012. Study DESIGN: A group of 563 patients with a diagnosis of OLP was retrospectively reviewed in our clinic. Data regarding age, gender, medical history, drugs, smoking, alcohol, chief complaint, clinical type, localization, histology, treatment and malignant transformation were registered. RESULTS: Of the 563 patients, 414 were females and 149 were males. The average age at the diagnosis was 58 (range 11-94). The most common site was buccal mucosa (82.4%). Most of our patients did not smoke (72.5%) or consume alcohol (69.6%). Patients reported oral soreness (43.3%), mucosal roughness (7%), xerostomia (3%), gingival bleeding (2%) and altered taste (0.5%) as the chief complaint, while almost half of them were asympto matic (44.2%). The most common types of OLP were reticular (64.8%) and erosive (22.9%). Plaque-like (5.7%) atrophic/erythemtous (4.3%) and bullous (2.3%) type were also observed. Malignant transformation rate of 0.7% was recorded. CONCLUSIONS: OLP mostly affects non-smoking middle-aged women. Buccal mucosa is the most commonly af-fected site. In almost half of the cases patients are asymptomatic. In spite of the small risk for malignant transfor-mation all patients should be regularly monitored

Oral lichen planus - retrospective study of 563 Croatian patients.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of oral lichen planus (OLP) in a group of Croatian patients seen between 2006 and 2012. STUDY DESIGN: A group of 563 patients with a diagnosis of OLP was retrospectively reviewed in our clinic. Data regarding age, gender, medical history, drugs, smoking, alcohol, chief complaint, clinical type, localization, histology, treatment and malignant transformation were registered. RESULTS: Of the 563 patients, 414 were females and 149 were males. The average age at the diagnosis was 58 (range 11-94). The most common site was buccal mucosa (82.4%). Most of our patients did not smoke (72.5%) or consume alcohol (69.6%). Patients reported oral soreness (43.3%), mucosal roughness (7%), xerostomia (3%), gingival bleeding (2%) and altered taste (0.5%) as the chief complaint, while almost half of them were asymptomatic (44.2%). The most common types of OLP were reticular (64.8%) and erosive (22.9%). Plaque-like (5.7%) atrophic/erythemtous (4.3%) and bullous (2.3%) type were also observed. Malignant transformation rate of 0.7% was recorded. CONCLUSIONS: OLP mostly affects non-smoking middle-aged women. Buccal mucosa is the most commonly affected site. In almost half of the cases patients are asymptomatic. In spite of the small risk for malignant transformation all patients should be regularly monitored.

Knowledge, attitudes, and awareness of Croatian dentists concerning patients' confidentiality and privacy.

Confidentiality and privacy have always been a vital part of the health care provider-patient relationship. The aim of this study was to identify and analyze the knowledge, attitudes, and awareness of dentists in Croatia concerning patients' confidentiality and privacy and to determine the degree to which they were protecting patients' confidentiality and privacy in everyday practice. Survey data were collected from seventy of the approximately 4,000 dentists in Croatia who had been randomly selected using the registry of the Croatian Chamber of Dental Medicine. Our strategy for data collection included visits to the dental offices and clinics. The data showed that dentists displayed a lack of awareness and had a poor attitude toward respecting patients' rights to confidentiality and privacy. This study indicated the need to educate dentists about their responsibilities and legal obligations.

Allergic contact cheilitis and perioral dermatitis caused by propolis: case report.

We report a case of propolis allergy in an 18-year-old female patient. Medical history revealed self-prescribed topical use of propolis spray as a medication for gingival swelling caused by orthodontic molar bands. After 24 hours, the patient developed lip edema and erythema of the perioral skin accompanied by burning pain in her lips. Discrete erosions were present in the corners of her lips. Erythema of the right infraorbital region was also observed. The patient was prescribed betamethasone propionate cream two times daily. Complete recovery was observed after 10 days. Propolis allergy was confirmed by a patch test. We believe that the use of propolis for the treatment of oral diseases should be avoided due to sparse evidence of its efficacy and numerous cases of allergic reactions.

Oral lesions in patients with lichen planus.

Forty patients with lichen planus admitted to University Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Sestre milosrdnice University Hospital in Zagreb during the 2004-2006 period were assigned to this retrospective study. In these 40 patients (27 female and 13 male), lichen planus was diagnosed on the basis of clinical presentation, laboratory findings and histopathologic analysis. The results obtained indicated an increased prevalence of lichen planus in middle-aged patients (40% of patients were aged 40-60), with a significant female predominance (67.5% vs. 32.5%). The majority of patients with lichen planus presented with both cutaneous and oral lesions (62.5%), one third of cases had only cutaneous lesions (35%), and only one patient had isolated oral lesions (2.5%). The initial symptoms in patients with lichen planus usually manifested on the skin (82.5%), in oral cavity (5%), or both simultaneously. Oral lesions usually developed on buccal mucosa (88.5%) in the form of Wickham's striae. All patients were administered topical therapy (corticosteroids, keratolytics), while 55% of patients were given both systemic and topical therapy (corticosteroids, retinoids). Phototherapy was used in 27.5% of patients. The management of patients with oral lichen planus lesions requires multidisciplinary approach including dermatologists and oral pathologists, general practitioners, as well as ENT specialists, internal medicine specialists, and others.

Oral lesions in patients with pemphigus vulgaris and bullous pemphigoid.

Thirty three patients admitted to the University Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Sestre milosrdnice University Hospital, were included in the study. The purpose of the study was to compare data on age and gender, habits, lesion localization, onset of symptoms and therapy between patients with pemphigus vulgaris and those suffering from bullous pemphigoid. Based on clinical presentation, histopathologic analysis, direct and indirect immunofluorescence, Tzanck smear and desmogleins, 15 cases of pemphigus vulgaris and 18 cases of bullous pemphigoid were diagnosed. The results obtained indicated an increased prevalence of pemphigus vulgaris in middle-aged patients (46.6% of patients were aged between 50 and 70), while bullous pemphigoid predominantly affected elderly individuals (83.3% of patients were older than 70). Pemphigus vulgaris showed a female predominance (female 66.6% vs. male 33.4%), while no sex difference was recorded for bullous pemphigoid. Patients with both diseases presented with cutaneous and/or oral lesions. The majority of patients with pemphigus vulgaris had skin lesions with oral manifestations (86.6%), whereas in 40% of cases oral lesions were preceded by the cutaneous ones. Mucosal erosions were found in only 16.6% of patients with bullous pemphigoid. The majority of patients were administered systemic and topical corticosteroid therapy with adjuvant systemic immunosuppressant therapy. Timely recognition of pemphigus vulgaris and bullous pemphigoid and appropriate treatment are important for the prognosis of these autoimmune bullous disorders.

Unrecognized cicatricial pemphigoid with oral manifestations and ocular complications. A case report.

Cicatricial pemphigoid is an autoimmune bullous disease characterized by mucous membrane fibrosis with resulting scarring, predominantly in the conjunctival and oral mucosa, which rarely involves skin changes. The majority of patients present with painful erosions or desquamative scarring gingivitis, resulting in eating and drinking disorders. Typical ocular lesions include chronic scarring conjunctivitis with progressive subconjunctival fibrosis, fornix foreshortening and synechia formation between the bulbar and palpebral conjunctiva, occasionally resulting in blindness. A 69-year-old woman was admitted to our Department for intense pain and severe burning sensation in the oral cavity, induced by several erosions and solitary blisters, lasting for 3 years. She was also diagnosed with the right eye symblepharon, lid entropion, trichiasis, leukoma and blindness of the right eye. The diagnosis of cicatricial pemphigoid was based on clinical picture and histopathology combined with immunofluorescence methods, with therapy initiated thereupon. Systemic corticosteroid (methylprednisolone) therapy in combination with azathioprine proved successful in the treatment of oral lesions as well as for stabilization of ocular lesions. Unfortunately, the patient was diagnosed in the advanced stage when scarring had already occurred. Prompt recognition of cicatricial pemphigoid and close patient monitoring are an imperative for the future prognosis of the disease.