Eleni Albanidou-Farmaki

HLA haplotypes in recurrent aphthous stomatitis: a mode of inheritance?

The aim of this study was to investigate the genetic association between recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) and human leucocyte antigen (HLA) class I and II alleles and HLA haplotypes. Families selected had at least one child suffering from recurrent aphthous stomatitis in addition to one or both of the parents. HLA‐A, ‐B and ‐DR alleles were typed in 29 families, 27 nuclear and two extended (121 subjects). HLA haplotypes of all family members with RAS were compared with those who were RAS negative. Although major histocompatibility complex class I and II gene analysis failed to demonstrate any significant association between RAS and HLA antigens, the study of HLA haplotypes revealed a significant association between HLA haplotypes and susceptibility to RAS. The results indicate that susceptibility to RAS segregates in families in association with HLA haplotypes.

HLA alleles and fissured tongue.

The aim of this study was to investigate the linkage between HLA and fissured tongue. Sixty‐ nine individuals with fissured tongue and 125 healthy volunteers were typed for HLA‐DRB1*. The results showed increased frequency of HLA‐DRB1*08 (P < 0.001), HLA‐DRB1*14 (P < 0.01), HLA‐DRB1*11 (P < 0.05) and HLA‐DRB1*16 (P < 0.05), while HLA‐DRB1*03 and HLA‐DRB1*07 frequency was decreased (P < 0.05).

Solitary Angiokeratoma of the Buccal Mucosa. Report of a Case

SUMMARY Background: Angiokeratoma is an asymptomatic, hyperkeratotic, capillary disorder of the skin present as solitary or multiple, keratotic papules or plaques, which may also be related to Fabry disease. Oral involvement may be observed in cases of widespread muco-cutaneous angiokeratomas, whereas solitary buccal angiokeratoma without systemic/cutaneous involvement is extremely rare. Case Report: A 45-year-old woman was referred with a 3-month, painless, bluish lesion, located on left buccal mucosa. The medical record of the patient was free of any systemic disease or medication. After a careful clinical oral, mucosal as well as skin examination, an excisional biopsy was taken. A routine haematoxylin-eosin staining and additional immunohistochemistry were performed. Differential diagnosis included haemangioma, haematoma or lesions of melanocytic origin. Clinical examination showed a solid, lobulated bluish lesion, located on left buccal mucosa without other skin or mucosal involvement. The microscopic findings revealed dilated vascular spaces covered by normal endothelium without atypia, extending into the epithelium, indicating the diagnosis of angiokeratoma. Conclusions: Despite its rare occurrence, solitary angiokeratoma of oral mucosa should be included in the differential diagnosis of black-bluish lesions. Further investigation for other similar lesions throughout skin or mucosa is needed to avoid complications as haemorrhage.