• Samar Z Burgan, Faleh A Sawair, and Zouhair O Amarin.
• Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan.
• Saudi Med J. 2006 Mar 1; 27 (3): 381-4.

ObjectiveTo determine the prevalence of hematinic deficiencies in patients with recurrent aphthous stomatitis.MethodsThe study took place in the Oral Medicine Clinic of the Jordan University Hospital in Amman, Jordan, between January 1993 and December 2000. We studied the hemoglobin, serum ferritin, vitamin B12 and folate levels in 143 patients with recurrent aphthous stomatitis. We compared the results with a control group of 143 age- and gender-matched patients with a range of other oral diseases.ResultsIn recurrent aphthous stomatitis patients, 14% were anemic and 37.8% showed hematinic deficiencies; 16.8% showed low serum ferritin; 26.6% showed low serum vitamin B12 and 4.9% showed low serum folate. In the control group, 10.5% were anemic and 18.2% showed hematinic deficiencies; 9.8% showed low serum ferritin; 12.6% showed low serum vitamin B12 and none showed serum folate deficiency.ConclusionPatients with recurrent aphthous stomatitis have more hematinic deficiencies, particularly vitamin B12 deficiency, compared with controls. Correction of these hematinic deficiencies could help in the management of the disease.

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