An epilogue to plasma-cell gingivostomatitis (allergic gingivostamtitis)

Abstract

Sixteen cases of plasma-cell gingivostomatitis were studied at the University of California San Francisco between 1966 and 1971. Twelve women and four men made up the group, with ages ranging from 15 to 70 years. Prior to treatment, the duration of the disease ranged from 5 to 60 months. Each of the sisteen patients manifested a homogeneous, diffuse, erythematous gingivitis associated with a cheilitis, and fifteen also had a marked glossitis. Each subject was symptomatic, and nine also complained of bleeding. Every biopsy specimen demonstrated a characteristically diffuse and dense plasma-cell infiltrate. There were no spontaneous remissions. Six patients completely responded to systemic corticoids alone, two to discontinuation of gum chewing or the use of their dentifrice, one to antifungal therapy, and the other seven to a combination of the preceding modalities. After completion of therapy, fifteen patients were followed for 2 to 55 months without any evidence of recurrence. Of interest, 69 per cent were gum chewers. The therapeutic benefit of discontinuing gum chewing by itself was not clear. It is assumed that the now nonexistent plasma-cell gingivostomatitis syndrome was a hypersensitivity response to an unidentifiable antigen used in various substances.