Abstract Burning mouth syndrome (BMS) is a condition characterized by painful symptoms of the oral mucosa, despite the absence of any clinical signs. Its etiology is unknown, and there is still no effective treatment to date. Current evidence has shown neuropathic impairment in BMS patients. Neuropathic pain can be related to the dysfunction of voltage-gated sodium channels, considering that these receptors regulate the induction of action potentials in nociceptive neurons. This study evaluated the gene expression of voltage-gated sodium channels Na v 1.7, Na v 1.8 and Na v 1.9 in these patients. The gene expressions of these channels were assessed by real time RT-PCR analysis of fresh-frozen tongue biopsies in a case-control study composed of 12 patients with BMS, and 5 healthy control patients, proportionally matched by sex and age, and analyzed using the 2^(-Delta Delta CT) method. There was no statistically significant difference between the analyzed groups, despite the increase in Na v 1.7 (fold-change = 3.13, p = 0.52) and decrease in Na v 1.9 (fold-change = 0.45, p = 0.36) gene expression in the BMS group. The Na v 1.8 gene was not expressed in any of the samples analyzed. Although the gene expression in the voltage-gated sodium channels in BMS under study seems to be comparable with that of the normal oral mucosa, the functionality of these channels in BMS has not yet been identified, thus suggesting that further research is needed to better understand these voltage-gated sodium channels.

ABSTRACT The Melkersson-Rosenthal syndrome constitutes a rare manifestation characterized by a triad of signs and symptoms: recurrent orofacial edema, fissured tongue, and recurrent facial paralysis. The difficulty in diagnosing Melkersson-Rosenthal syndrome is that orofacial edema is common to various diseases besides the lack of awareness of the syndrome by health professionals and the frequent metachronous manifestation of its symptomatology. The aim of this report is to present a classical case of Melkersson-Rosenthal syndrome and its clinical and therapeutic approach. A patient who sought for assistance at the Stomatology Clinic presented a synchronous manifestation of the triad: a left lip and cheek nonpitting edema accompanied by facial paralysis on the same side and fissured tongue. Melkersson-Rosenthal syndrome was diagnosed due to the presence of the triad of signs and symptoms after initially ruling out Crohn’s disease, Sarcoidosis, and tuberculosis due to a lack of intestinal or respiratory complaints and absence of other clinical evidence. The treatment administered was steroids, the most common treatment with a satisfied prognosis we found in the literature for Melkersson-Rosenthal syndrome patients. We recommend its implementation intralesional injections of betamethasone dipropionate as after four infiltrations the edema subsided by 80% with no further relapses within one-year follow-up.

RESUMO A síndrome de Melkersson-Rosenthal constitui uma manifestação rara caracterizada por uma tríade de sinais e sintomas: edema orofacial recorrente, língua fissurada e paralisia facial recorrente. A dificuldade no diagnóstico da síndrome de Melkersson-Rosenthal é que o edema orofacial é comum a diversas doenças, além do desconhecimento da síndrome pelos profissionais de saúde e da frequente manifestação metacrônica de sua sintomatologia. O objetivo deste relato é apresentar um caso clássico de síndrome de Melkersson-Rosenthal e sua abordagem clínica e terapêutica. Paciente procurou atendimento no Ambulatório de Estomatologia apresentando manifestação sincrônica da tríade: edema não depressível em lábio e bochecha esquerdos acompanhado de paralisia facial do mesmo lado e língua fissurada. A síndrome de Melkersson-Rosenthal foi diagnosticada devido à presença da tríade de sinais e sintomas após a exclusão inicial de doença de Crohn, sarcoidose e tuberculose por ausência de queixas intestinais ou respiratórias e ausência de outras evidências clínicas. O tratamento administrado foi o esteroide, sendo o tratamento mais comum com prognóstico satisfatório que encontramos na literatura para pacientes com SRM. Recomendamos a aplicação de injeções intralesionais de dipropionato de betametasona, pois após quatro infiltrações o edema cedeu em 80% sem novas recidivas em um ano de seguimento.

Resumo Introdução A Síndrome de Ardência Bucal (SAB) é uma condição caracterizada pelo sintoma de ardência na mucosa oral na ausência de qualquer sinal clínico. Sua etiologia ainda é desconhecida e, até o momento, não dispõe de tratamento efetivo. Objetivo Avaliar o perfil do paciente portador de SAB, as terapias instituídas e seus resultados em estudo retrospectivo. Material e método Foram coletados os dados clínicos e terapêuticos dos prontuários de pacientes diagnosticados com SAB, no período de janeiro de 2013 a abril de 2015, no Ambulatório da Disciplina de Estomatologia Clínica da Faculdade de Odontologia da Universidade de São Paulo. Os critérios para o diagnóstico utilizados se basearam nos estabelecidos pela International Headache Society em 2013 e foram observadas as terapêuticas empregadas e seus resultados. Resultado Doze pacientes foram diagnosticadas com SAB neste período, todas do sexo feminino, média de idade 61,18 anos, e a principal região acometida pelo sintoma de ardor foi o ápice de língua. O tempo de duração deste sintoma variou de 6 meses a 25 anos. As terapias utilizadas para o controle de sintomas da SAB foram capsaicina, clonazepan tópico, laserterapia e homeopatia. Dentre as terapias instituídas, a capsaicina apresentou efeito imediato na redução dos sintomas. Conclusão O presente estudo demonstrou que os desafios que circundam a obtenção de um tratamento efetivo para a SAB são diversos e estão principalmente relacionados ao desconhecimento da etiopatogenia da doença. O perfil demográfico dos pacientes aqui estudados foi semelhante ao descrito na literatura disponível, entretanto, as variáveis representadas por sintomas secundários (história médica, níveis de ansiedade e depressão) podem constituir fatores modificadores da resposta terapêutica e da própria etiopatogenia da doença.

Abstract Introduction Burning Mouth Syndrome (BMS) is a condition characterized by burning symptom of the oral mucosa in the absence of clinical signs. Its etiology is still unknown and, and to date there is no effective treatment. Purpose The aim of this study was to evaluate patients with BMS profile and the therapies results in a retrospective study. Material and method Clinical and therapeutic data were collected from records of patients with BMS diagnosed between January 2013 to April 2015 at the Clinic of Stomatology Clinic, Faculdade de Odontologia of Universidade de São Paulo, according to the criteria established by the International Headache Society in 2013. The therapies used for BMS control were also evaluated. Result Twelve patients were diagnosed with BMS at this period. All of them were women with a mean age of 61.18 years and the apex of the tongue was the most common affected site and the duration of the burning sensation ranged from 6 months to 25 years. Many therapies were prescribed for BMS control, such as topical capsaicin, topical clonazepan, low level laser therapy and homeopathy. Among the established therapies, capsaicin has immediate effect in reducing symptoms. Conclusion The present study showed that the challenges towards an effective treatment for BMS are varied and are mainly related to the lack knowing of the pathogenesis of this disease. The demographic profile of patients studied here was similar to that described in the available literature, however, the variables represented by secondary symptoms (medical history, anxiety and depression levels) may be modifying factors of therapeutic response and the pathogenesis of the disease itself.