Advances in Dental Research, Vol 7, 213-219, Copyright © 1993 by International & American Associations for Dental Research
Non-infectious diseases of the oral soft tissue: a new approach
D. M. Williams
Department of Oral Pathology, The London Hospital Medical College and Institute of Dental Surgery, England.
A significant proportion of the non-infectious diseases of oral mucosa are
either auto-immune in nature or have lesions which are the result of
immunologically-mediated events. These include pemphigus, benign mucous
membrane pemphigoid, linear IgA bullous dermatosis, dermatitis
herpetiformis, epidermolysis bullosa acquisita, erythema multiforme, and
lichen planus. Although each of these has certain specific characteristics,
all may produce bullae, erosions, and ulcers on the oral mucosa, resulting
in confusingly similar clinical presentations. With careful clinical,
histological, and immunofluorescence examination, it is possible to
establish a definitive diagnosis in a high proportion of cases. However,
one of the most exciting developments which has emerged from recent
research into these diseases is their precise molecular characterization.
This raises the prospect of accurate, highly specific diagnostic tests
which would provide the basis for sound clinical management, with original
approaches replacing the somewhat unsatisfactory symptomatic treatment
which is often all that is available.
