Effect of Behcet's disease-associated oral ulcers on oral health related quality of life.

AIM: The current study assessed the clinical characteristics of patients suffering from Behcet's disease (BD)-associated oral ulcers and investigated the effect of these oral ulcers on the oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL). METHODS: This study included BD patients suffering from active oral ulcers, defined by the revised International Criteria for BD (ICBD) criteria. We collected BD and oral ulcers characteristics. The oral ulcer activity index and OHRQoL were measured by composite index (CI) and Oral Health Impact Profile-14 (OHIP-14), respectively. RESULTS: Genital and ocular manifestations were the most frequent. Ocular manifestations were the main diagnostic manifestation. The mean age of BD diagnosis and first oral ulcer appearance were 32.15 ± 8.96 and 29.62 ± 9.04, respectively. Minor oral ulcers were more frequent; solitary or multiple. CI revealed that pain was more severe than functional disability. OHIP-14 showed that patients suffered more often from pain and difficulties in eating. Patients reported feeling tense, being irritable, doing usual job with difficulty, and having less satisfying life. CONCLUSION: BD-associated oral ulcers lead to poor quality of life. Female gender, multiple ulcers, and buccal mucosa were associated with more severe pain and functional disability as well as poorer quality of life.

Evaluation of diode laser versus topical corticosteroid in management of Behcet's disease-associated oral ulcers: a randomized clinical trial.

OBJECTIVES: The current trial was conducted to assess the effect of diode laser therapy compared to topical corticosteroid in management of oral ulcers of BD. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty patients were divided randomly into two parallel groups. The first group received 980 nm diode laser; the second group received topical corticosteroid (0.1% triamcinolone acetonide). The outcome measures included oral ulcer activity index (composite index), pain (VAS), number of oral ulcers, healing time, and oral health-related quality of life (OHIP-14). The collected data were analyzed for any statistical significance. RESULTS: A statistically significant difference was detected between laser and corticosteroid groups favoring laser on comparing composite index and VAS scores on the first and third days and on comparing number of ulcers on the third and fifth days. A statistically significant difference was detected between laser and corticosteroid groups on comparing scores of the questions assessing discomfort with eating food, irritability with other people, taste worsening, unsatisfactory diet, and painful aching on the first and/or third days. No adverse effects were reported by participants of both groups. CONCLUSIONS: Diode laser is efficient safe treatment modality for management of BD-associated oral ulcers. Diode laser was more efficient than triamcinolone acetonide in controlling pain and reducing oral ulcer activity. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Laser therapy is efficient safe modality that could spare BD patient from adding a new medication to their long list, being just one visit compared to other regular daily regimen medications. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov registration number: NCT03771768.

Evaluation of topical human platelet lysate versus topical clobetasol in management of methotrexate-induced oral ulceration in rheumatoid arthritis patients: Randomized-controlled clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: There is no mainstay protocol for management of Methotrexate-induced oral ulcers; commonly used protocols are cessation of Methotrexate, folic acid treatment, corticosteroids or combination. A new era of oral ulcers management is represented by platelet concentrates. The current study assessed the effect of topical human platelet lysate compared to topical Clobetasol Propionate in management of methotrexate-induced oral ulceration in rheumatoid arthritis patients. METHODS: This randomized controlled clinical trial include 30 patients in two parallel groups (intervention - human platelet lysate, control - Clobetasol Propionate), with allocation ratio 1:1. Outcome measures were pain intensity using numerical rating scale, WHO scale for oral mucositis, measuring size of the largest ulcer and total number of oral ulcers. RESULTS: A statistically significant difference was detected between HPL and Clobetasol groups on comparing numerical rating scale, WHO mucositis scale, size and total number of oral ulcers throughout all visits. A considerable quick pain reduction and clinical improvement were noticed in HPL group compared to Clobetasol. CONCLUSION: Human platelet lysate has superior effect when compared to one of the most potent topical corticosteroids, Clobetasol Propionate, in reducing pain and clinical signs of Methotrexate-induced oral ulcers in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Serum Amyloid A Type 1 Gene Polymorphism in Egyptian Children with Familial Mediterranean Fever.

BACKGROUND: Since spontaneous inflammation is an important contributor to familial Mediterranean fever (FMF), genetic variants mediating inflammation are of interest. We investigated gene variants in the acute-phase serum amyloid A type 1 (SAA1), a sensitive marker of inflammatory activity, and their association with susceptibility and severity of FMF. METHODS: The genotypes of 2 single-nucleotide polymorphisms within exon 3 of SAA1 (2995C/T and 3010C/T) were determined in 105 Egyptian children with FMF and in 125 controls by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism. Genotyping of the causative MEFV mutations was performed by reverse hybridization. RESULTS: The M694I mutation was the most frequent allele (42.8%), followed by V726A (18.6%), M680I (17.1%), E148Q (11.9%) and M694V (9.0%). The frequency of the SAA1 α, ß and x03B3; alleles was not significantly different between FMF patients and controls. The genotype frequency of SAA1 α/α was higher in patients than in healthy subjects (21.0 vs. 14.4%) although it did not reach statistical significance. The clinical manifestations including age at disease onset, number of FMF attacks, colchicine dose and severity score were not related to genotypes of SAA1. However, M694V mutation and female gender were significantly associated with severity. CONCLUSION: The genetic polymorphism of SAA1 is not associated with susceptibility and severity of FMF in Egyptian children.