J Rheum Dis.  2017 Jun;24(3):157-160. 10.4078/jrd.2017.24.3.157.

A Case of Refractory Oral Aphthous Ulcer Successfully Treated with Adalimumab

• Kim J
• Song MJ
• Jeong HJ
• Cho SK
• Sung YK

• KMID: 2385343
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4078/jrd.2017.24.3.157

Abstract

Oral aphthous ulcer is a common lesion characterized by loss of dermal tissue of various shapes in many diseases. It is not serious, but may affect quality of life through pain and discomfort. In many cases, it heals spontaneously without treatment or with topical agents such as antiseptics, analgesics and corticosteroid in a few days. However, rarely, there are a few cases of aphthous ulcer that remain refractory despite appropriate treatment. Tumor necrosis factor-α inhibitors have recently been used in treatment of severe mucosal ulcer in Behçet's disease. Herein, we report a patient suffering from refractory oral aphthous ulcers that were resistant to topical and systemic agents, but were successfully treated with adalimumab.

Keyword

Oral ulcer; Aphthous stomatitis; Tumor necrosis factor-alpha inhibitor; Adalimumab

MeSH Terms

Adalimumab*
Analgesics
Anti-Infective Agents, Local
Humans
Necrosis
Oral Ulcer
Quality of Life
Stomatitis, Aphthous*
Ulcer
Adalimumab
Analgesics
Anti-Infective Agents, Local

Figure

• 

  Figure 1. A 20×10 mm sized oral ulcer (arrows) with deep clean-cut margin on his left border of tongue (A), there was no any improvement but small ex-tra-ulcer (arrow head) developed during systemic steroid therapy (B).

• 

  Figure 2. Healing ulcer (arrows) at 2 months (A), and 7 months (B) from administration of adalimumab.

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