1/2. Treatment of severe recurrent aphthous stomatitis with colchicine.Recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) is characterized by necrotizing ulcers of the oral mucosa that persist, remit, and recur for variable periods of time. Despite the benign nature of the disease, persistent pain and ulceration may disable patients from performing their daily activities. We describe three patients with long-standing active RAS treated with oral colchicine. All patients experienced a marked decrease in symptoms and a remission of the disease. Recurrences, however, occurred within three days of discontinuation of the therapy. In one patient, colchicine therapy was discontinued because of persistent diarrhea. In another, a second remission was more difficult to achieve on the same regimen. The literature on the subject is reviewed, and the beneficial effects of colchicine therapy are discussed in relation to the immunopathogenesis of this disease. We conclude that colchicine therapy should be considered as an alternative in the treatment of the major or persistent form of RAS.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = nature (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/2. Oral palatine ulcers of a traumatic nature in infants: Bednar's aphthae.The authors present five cases of large palatine ulcers of a traumatic nature in infants, with duration from two weeks to four months. Causal diagnosis was difficult at first until the possibility of trauma caused by non-orthodontic nipples (all cases) and dummies (4)--Bednar's aphthae--was considered. Other problems related to sucking were observed: a horizontal position for nursing (all) and very narrow nipple hole (4). The infants' mothers were advised to enlarge the orifice in the nipple and correct the position for nursing (3 cases) and, in addition, to suspend use of a dummy (1 case) and discontinue use of a bottle and dummy (1 case). All of the ulcers healed within a period from one to four weeks. Small scars remained in two of the children.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 5keywords = nature (Clic here for more details about this article) |