Diagnostic Value Of B12 Deficiency-Related Glossitis In Autoimmune Gastritis

To investigate the etiology of vitamin B12 deficiency-related glossitis (B12-def glossitis) in a regional hospital in China and evaluate its diagnostic value for autoimmune gastritis (AIG). This study included patients who presented with tongue pain, burning sensations, or recurrent oral ulcers between May 2022 and February 2024. Patients with glossitis and confirmed B12 deficiency were classified as B12-def glossitis, while those with other oral mucosal conditions were categorized as non-B12-def glossitis. All subjects underwent hematological tests, gastroscopy, and histopathological examinations except for patients who underwent total gastrectomy. Based on AIG diagnostic criteria, patients were divided into an AIG group (case group) and a non-AIG group (control group). The diagnostic efficacy of B12-def glossitis for AIG was assessed by calculating sensitivity, specificity, the Youden index, and the Kappa statistic. This research protocol was approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University (2021-285). A total of 127 patients were included, of whom 81 were diagnosed with B12-def glossitis. Among them, 10 had a history of total gastrectomy, while 71 did not. Of these 71 patients, 63 (88.7%) were diagnosed with AIG. The sensitivity, specificity, and Youden index of B12-def glossitis for diagnosing AIG were 0.969, 0.846, and 0.815, respectively, with a Kappa value of 0.825. AIG is the primary cause of B12-def glossitis in this cohort of Chinese patients. B12-def glossitis demonstrates high effectiveness and reliability in diagnosing AIG.