Hematologic abnormalities in recurrent oral ulceration.

The aim of this study was to analyse the hematologic status in patients with recurrent oral ulceration (ROU). Twenty-three patients with ROU and 19 control subjects were examined consecutively for hematological abnormalities including serum folate, red cell folate and vitamin B12 levels. Their complete blood counts, hemoglobin typing, serum and red cell folate and serum vitamin B12 levels were studied. Low red cell folate levels were found in 11 out of 23 patients (47.83%) with ROU. They were defined as having folate deficiency (n=5), folate deficient erythropoiesis (n=1), and folate depletion (n=5). The serum and red cell folate levels in the control group were within normal range. There was a statistically significant low red cell folate in the ROU compared to the control group (p=0.000). The serum vitamin B12 levels were within normal range in both ROU and control groups. Hemoglobin, hematocrit and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentrations were in the normal range in both groups and none had anemia or macrocytosis.