Opiorphin levels in fluids of burning mouth syndrome patients: a case-control study

Idiopathic Burning mouth syndrome (iBMS) is a poorly understood affection characterized by persistent pain in the oral cavity without any clinical or biological abnormality. Opiorphin is a natural inhibitor of enkephalin-inactivating ectopeptidases, mainly produced by salivary glands, that has demonstrated analgesic properties. The objective of the present case-control study was to test the hypothesis of a decrease in opiorphin levels in iBMS patients. Twenty-one iBMS patients and 21 matched controls subjects were included between 2011 and 2013. Submandibular and sublingual salivary, blood, and urinary opiorphin levels of iBMS patients were compared to controls. Results are expressed as mean values +/- SD and compared using the Wilcoxon Signed Rank test. Correlations were analyzed with Spearman coefficient. The level of significance was fixed at p < 0.05. Opiorphin levels in iBMS and controls were respectively (in ng/ml) in basal saliva: 37.8 +/- 42.5 and 67.6 +/- 188.9 (p = NS); stimulated saliva: 28.8 +/- 25.3 and 31.1 +/- 29.1 (p = NS); blood: 4.6 +/- 5.4 and 1.9 +/- 1.4 (p < 0.05); and urines: 68.5 +/- 259.8 and 8.9 +/- 6.2 (p = NS). In conclusion, the lack of significative difference in salivary opiorphin levels between iBMS and controls does not favor a direct local role for opiorphin in the etiopathogeny of iBMS. However, higher blood opiorphin levels may reflect a systemic dysregulation in iBMS.