Objective: To determine the prevalence and characteristics of burning mouth syndrome (BMS) in a Parkinson’s disease (PD) population through a self-administered survey.

Background: The majority of patients living with PD experience chronic pain. Low pain threshold and activation of central nociceptive pathways have been documented. Rare data exist on the orofacial area. BMS has been reported to occur far more commonly in PD than in the general population, but detailed characterization needs further investigation.

Methods: Two-hundred and three (87F:116M) consecutive, non-selected patients with idiopathic PD agreed to fill a survey during a regular outpatient visit at two Movement Disorders Clinic in Montreal (Canada) and Toulouse (France), to collect information about their pain experience, PD-related symptoms, oral and general health. A neurologist confirmed their diagnosis, drug treatment, Hoehn-Yahr stage, and Schwab & England Activity of Daily Living score.

Results: Five participants with chronic non-burning oral pain were excluded. In contrast to the common occurrence of chronic extra-oral pain in the remaining participants, BMS was reported by 8 (7F:1M) subjects, for a prevalence of 4.0% (95% CI 2.1-7.8). PD severity and levodopa equivalent daily dose did not differ between non-BMS and BMS participants. Results on a home-made oral health index were poorer in BMS compared to non-BMS subjects. BMS nearly always manifested after initiation of drug therapy, not always daily or continuously, but always coexisted with restless legs syndrome, arguing for secondary but not idiopathic BMS in these patients.

Conclusions: This survey yielded a low prevalence of BMS in PD. Referral to a dentist is needed to rule out an oral problem. Possible relationship with antiParkinsonian drug therapy deserves further attention.

« Back to 2016 International Congress

MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/characterization-of-burning-mouth-syndrome-in-patients-with-parkinsons-disease/