Anemia, hematinic deficiencies, hyperhomocysteinemia, and serum gastric parietal cell antibody positivity in 430 patients with recurrent aphthous stomatitis

Authors

• Yi-Ping Wang, Department of Dentistry, National Taiwan University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
• Yi-Pang Lee, Department of Dentistry, Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, Hualien, Taiwan
• Yu-Hsueh Wu, Department of Stomatology, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
• Julia Yu-Fong Chang, Department of Dentistry, National Taiwan University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
• Andy Sun, Department of Dentistry, National Taiwan University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
• Chun-Pin Chiang, Department of Dentistry, National Taiwan University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, TaiwanFollow

Abstract

Background/purpose: Our previous study found that 20.9%, 20.1%, 4.8%, 2.6%, and 7.7% of 273 recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) patients have anemia, serum iron, vitamin B12, and folic acid deficiencies, and hyperhomocysteinemia, respectively. This study mainly evaluated the anemia, hematinic deficiencies, hyperhomocysteinemia, and serum gastric parietal cell antibody (GPCA) positivity in a large group of 430 RAS patients.

Materials and methods: The blood hemoglobin (Hb) and serum iron, vitamin B12, folic acid, homocysteine, and GPCA levels in 430 RAS patients were measured and compared with the corresponding levels in 430 age- and sex-matched healthy control subjects.

Results: We found that 25.1%, 23.5%, 7.0%, 2.6%, 9.8%, and 12.8% of 430 RAS patients were diagnosed as having blood Hb and serum iron, vitamin B12, and folic acid deficiencies, hyperhomocysteinemia, and serum GPCA positivity, respectively. Moreover, 430 RAS patients had significantly higher frequencies of blood Hb and serum iron, vitamin B12, and folic acid deficiencies, hyperhomocysteinemia, and serum GPCA positivity than 430 healthy control subjects (all P-values < 0.001 except P = 0.002 for folic acid deficiency). Of 108 anemic RAS patients, 55 had normocytic anemia, 27 had iron deficiency anemia, 10 had thalassemia trait-induced anemia, 4 had pernicious anemia, 9 had macrocytic anemia other than pernicious anemia, and 3 had microcytic anemia other than iron deficiency anemia and thalassemia trait-induced anemia.

Conclusion: RAS patients have significantly higher frequencies of blood Hb and serum iron, vitamin B12, and folic acid deficiencies, hyperhomocysteinemia, and serum GPCA positivity than healthy control subjects.

Recommended Citation

Wang, Yi-Ping; Lee, Yi-Pang; Wu, Yu-Hsueh; Chang, Julia Yu-Fong; Sun, Andy; and Chiang, Chun-Pin (2026) "Anemia, hematinic deficiencies, hyperhomocysteinemia, and serum gastric parietal cell antibody positivity in 430 patients with recurrent aphthous stomatitis," Journal of Dental Sciences: Vol. 21: Iss. 4, Article 12.
Available at: https://jds.ads.org.tw/journal/vol21/iss4/12

Publication Date

2026

Received Date

July 27 2026

Accepted Date

July 29 2026