Angina bullosa hemorrhagica.

BACKGROUND

In 1967, Badham used the term angina bullosa hemorrhagica (ABH) to describe an entity we already knew as traumatic oral hemophlyctenosis (TOH) (1933) and later renamed recurrent oral hemophlyctenosis (ROH) (1971).

OBJECTIVES

The objective of this study was to review and discuss the literature, and to report 54 new cases seen between 1989 and 1996.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Fifty-four patients were thoroughly assessed to determine the clinical features, histology, etiology, pathogenesis, differential diagnosis, and therapy.

RESULTS

In 35 patients (64.8%), the lesions predominated on the palate and in nine (16.6%) on the oral mucosa. The incidence was similar in both sexes (women, 52%; men, 48%) and the condition affected mostly the 51-70-year age group. ABH was never documented in children under 10 years of age. In 24 cases (44.4%), diabetes mellitus, hyperglycemia, and/or a family history of diabetes was found.

CONCLUSIONS

ABH is a disorder more common than the literature would suggest. Although the causes may be multiple (mucosal trauma, inhaled corticosteroids), the available data indicate that, in these patients, the presence of an alteration in glucose metabolism should be considered.