Oral mucosa lesions in patients with active Crohn’s disease - a prospective study

Crohn’s disease (CD) is a chronic inflammatory disease, which may involve any part of the gastrointestinal tract, including the oral cavity. Mucosal lesions in the oral cavity are described in various populations, but observations in active disease with severe clinical symptoms are quite rare.

To evaluate the prevalence and nature of oral mucosa lesions in adult patients with active CD and their correlation with clinical and laboratory indicators of disease activity.

Prospective study was performed in 62 patients (29 women, 33 men, age 18-49 years) admitted between December 2010 and February 2013 to the gastroenterology department with a confirmed diagnosis of CD and exacerbations of symptoms, and 40 sex- and gender-matched healthy volunteers. CD activity was classified according to clinical and blood parameters, and the CD activity index (CDAI). We examined: blood morphology, hemoglobin and CRP levels, BMI. Examination of the oral cavity included a detailed interview and physical examination, based on the WHO recommendations.

In patients with active CD we found: increased CDAI score (258.4±21.5), higher CRP levels (24.6±1.3 mg/l) and platelet count, anemia with significantly reduced RBC and hemoglobin level, and reduced BMI, in comparison to controls. The specific for CD symptoms were found in the mouth: indurated tag polypoid lesions on vestibular retromolar region in 12.9% of patients, cobblestoning of the mucosa in 9.7%, diffuse asymptomatic buccal swelling in 16.2%, mucogingivitis in 19.4% of patients. Oral nonspecific lesions were more frequent: angular cheilitis in 29.1%, atrophic glossitis in 14.5% of patients. Oral lesions correlated with hemoglobin and CRP concentrations (r=-0.431 and r=0.437; respectively; p<0.001), platelet count (r=0.45; p<0.003), CDAI (r=0.421; p<0.001) and BMI (r=0.307; p<0.006). No correlation has been found between specific or non-specific lesions and location of inflammatory changes in the gastrointestinal tract.

Changes in the oral mucosa in adult patients with active CD are frequent. They should be correlated with other clinical symptoms of gastrointestinal tract and biochemical parameters in patients with CD. The nature of these changes may have an impact on the further therapeutic approach.