Chun-Pin Chiang1, Yu-Hsueh Wu2, Julia Yu-Fong Chang3, Yi-Ping Wang3, Yang-Che Wu4, Andy Sun5. 1. Department of Dentistry, Far Eastern Memorial Hospital, New Taipei City, Taiwan; Graduate Institute of Clinical Dentistry, School of Dentistry, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Dentistry, National Taiwan University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan; Graduate Institute of Oral Biology, School of Dentistry, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan. 2. Department of Dentistry, Far Eastern Memorial Hospital, New Taipei City, Taiwan; Graduate Institute of Clinical Dentistry, School of Dentistry, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan. 3. Graduate Institute of Clinical Dentistry, School of Dentistry, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Dentistry, National Taiwan University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan; Graduate Institute of Oral Biology, School of Dentistry, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan. 4. Graduate Institute of Clinical Dentistry, School of Dentistry, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Dentistry, National Taiwan University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan. 5. Graduate Institute of Clinical Dentistry, School of Dentistry, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Dentistry, National Taiwan University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan. Electronic address: andysun7702@yahoo.com.tw.
Abstract
BACKGROUND/ PURPOSE: Our previous study found that 9 of 63 recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS)/Behcet's disease (BD) patients have serum gastric parietal cell antibody (GPCA) positivity. This study assessed whether serum GPCA positivity or RAS/BD itself was a significant factor causing hematinic deficiencies and hyperhomocysteinemia in GPCA-positive RAS/BD (GPCA+RAS/BD) or gastric and thyroid autoantibodies-negative RAS/BD (Abs-RAS/BD) patients. METHODS: The mean blood hemoglobin (Hb), iron, vitamin B12, folic acid, and homocysteine levels were measured and compared between any two of three groups of 9 GPCA+RAS/BD patients, 41 Abs-RAS/BD patients, and 126 healthy control subjects. RESULTS: GPCA+RAS/BD patients had significantly lower mean blood Hb (for men only), iron (for men only), and vitamin B12 levels as well as a significantly higher mean serum homocysteine level than 126 healthy control subjects. Moreover, GPCA+RAS/BD patients had significantly greater frequencies of blood Hb, iron, and vitamin B12 deficiencies and of hyperhomocysteinemia than healthy control subjects. GPCA+RAS/BD patients did have a significantly lower mean serum vitamin B12 level and a significantly higher mean serum homocysteine level as well as significantly greater frequencies of vitamin B12 deficiency and of hyperhomocysteinemia than Abs-RAS/BD patients. Moreover, Abs-RAS/BD patients did have significantly lower mean blood Hb, iron, and folic acid levels and significantly greater frequencies of blood Hb and iron deficiencies than healthy control subjects. CONCLUSION: The GPCA is a major factor causing vitamin B12 deficiency and hyperhomocyteinemia in GPCA+RAS/BD patients. RAS/BD itself does play a significant role in causing anemia and hematinic deficiencies in both GPCA+RAS/BD and Abs-RAS/BD patients.
BACKGROUND/ PURPOSE: Our previous study found that 9 of 63 recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS)/Behcet's disease (BD) patients have serum gastric parietal cell antibody (GPCA) positivity. This study assessed whether serum GPCA positivity or RAS/BD itself was a significant factor causing hematinic deficiencies and hyperhomocysteinemia in GPCA-positive RAS/BD (GPCA+RAS/BD) or gastric and thyroid autoantibodies-negative RAS/BD (Abs-RAS/BD) patients. METHODS: The mean blood hemoglobin (Hb), iron, vitamin B12, folic acid, and homocysteine levels were measured and compared between any two of three groups of 9 GPCA+RAS/BD patients, 41 Abs-RAS/BD patients, and 126 healthy control subjects. RESULTS: GPCA+RAS/BD patients had significantly lower mean blood Hb (for men only), iron (for men only), and vitamin B12 levels as well as a significantly higher mean serum homocysteine level than 126 healthy control subjects. Moreover, GPCA+RAS/BD patients had significantly greater frequencies of blood Hb, iron, and vitamin B12deficiencies and of hyperhomocysteinemia than healthy control subjects. GPCA+RAS/BD patients did have a significantly lower mean serum vitamin B12 level and a significantly higher mean serum homocysteine level as well as significantly greater frequencies of vitamin B12deficiency and of hyperhomocysteinemia than Abs-RAS/BD patients. Moreover, Abs-RAS/BD patients did have significantly lower mean blood Hb, iron, and folic acid levels and significantly greater frequencies of blood Hb and iron deficiencies than healthy control subjects. CONCLUSION: The GPCA is a major factor causing vitamin B12deficiency and hyperhomocyteinemia in GPCA+RAS/BD patients. RAS/BD itself does play a significant role in causing anemia and hematinic deficiencies in both GPCA+RAS/BD and Abs-RAS/BD patients.