Víctor I Madariaga1, Hirokazu Tanaka1,2,3, Malin Ernberg1. 1. Division of Oral Diagnostics and Rehabilitation, Department of Dental Medicine, Scandinavian Center for Orofacial Neurosciences (SCON), Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden. 2. Oral Disease Center, Aizawa Hospital, Matsumoto, Japan. 3. Department of Dentistry and Oral Surgery, Shinshu University School of Medicine, Matsumoto, Japan.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Primary burning mouth syndrome (BMS) is an oro-facial disease with neuropathic characteristics. Psychophysics, such as quantitative sensory testing (QST), is used to sub-classify neuropathic pain syndromes, but their usefulness in characterising BMS is not yet clear. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to summarise and to quantitatively and qualitatively analyse the available information about QST findings in BMS, and to reflect on possible mechanisms of disease. METHODS: In this systematic review and meta-analysis, different search strategies were used to screen for articles in PubMed, Embase, EBSCOhost, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Google Scholar and two sources of conference abstracts. Primary clinical studies focused on QST assessment in patients with BMS were included. Data were synthesised qualitatively and quantitatively. Risk of bias was assessed following the AHRQ guidelines. RESULTS: Thirteen articles with low to moderate risk of bias and one conference abstract were selected from 45 unique articles that were identified. Individually, the studies reported combinations of thermal and mechanical sensory impairments measured by QST. The meta-analysis showed significant sensory differences between patients and controls in warmth (effect size = 0.683; P < .05) and cold detection thresholds (effect size = -0.580; P < .001). CONCLUSION: The results indicate that thermal sensitivity seems to be altered in patients with BMS compared to controls, suggesting a small-fibre neuropathy. However, study protocols were highly variable and heterogeneous. Therefore, studies with better designs and complete reporting of results should be performed to bring value to the use of psychophysics in the assessment of BMS.
BACKGROUND: Primary burning mouth syndrome (BMS) is an oro-facial disease with neuropathic characteristics. Psychophysics, such as quantitative sensory testing (QST), is used to sub-classify neuropathic pain syndromes, but their usefulness in characterising BMS is not yet clear. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to summarise and to quantitatively and qualitatively analyse the available information about QST findings in BMS, and to reflect on possible mechanisms of disease. METHODS: In this systematic review and meta-analysis, different search strategies were used to screen for articles in PubMed, Embase, EBSCOhost, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Google Scholar and two sources of conference abstracts. Primary clinical studies focused on QST assessment in patients with BMS were included. Data were synthesised qualitatively and quantitatively. Risk of bias was assessed following the AHRQ guidelines. RESULTS: Thirteen articles with low to moderate risk of bias and one conference abstract were selected from 45 unique articles that were identified. Individually, the studies reported combinations of thermal and mechanical sensory impairments measured by QST. The meta-analysis showed significant sensory differences between patients and controls in warmth (effect size = 0.683; P < .05) and cold detection thresholds (effect size = -0.580; P < .001). CONCLUSION: The results indicate that thermal sensitivity seems to be altered in patients with BMS compared to controls, suggesting a small-fibre neuropathy. However, study protocols were highly variable and heterogeneous. Therefore, studies with better designs and complete reporting of results should be performed to bring value to the use of psychophysics in the assessment of BMS.
Authors: Elena Nicolas-Rodriguez; Ana Garcia-Martinez; Diana Molino-Pagan; Luis Marin-Martinez; Eduardo Pons-Fuster; Pia López-Jornet Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2022-07-22 Impact factor: 4.614