Oral burning symptoms and burning mouth syndrome-significance of different variables in 150 patients.

Objectives: Despite the extensive amount of published literature upon burning symptoms in patients with clinically healthy appearance of the oral mucosa, as well as burning mouth syndrome (BMS) itself, they both remain still challenging topics. The aim of this study was to determine the real prevalence of "true" BMS in comparison to other patients with burning symptoms with clinically healthy appearance of the oral mucosa and then to compare "true" BMS patients with healthy controls regarding gastritis and intake of anxiolytics and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors.

Study Design: In 150 patients with burning symptoms of clinically healthy oral mucosa, local and systemic investigations were performed and they included detection of candidal infection, salivary flow rate, presence of oral galvanism and parafunctional habits as well as complete blood count, serum ferritin, serum glucose levels, serum antibodies to Helicobacter pylori together with detailed medical history with special regard to medication intake. After "true" BMS patients were identified they have been compared to the controls with regard to the presence of gastritis and the intake of anxiolytics and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors.

Results: Our results show that gastritis were significantly more present among "true" BMS patients and that they also significantly more intake anxiolitics, when compared to the control group.

Conclusions: Our findings might lead to the conclusion that every "true" BMS patient should be referred to the gastroenterologist and psychiatrist.