Is SARS-CoV-2 an Etiologic Agent or Predisposing Factor for Oral Lesions in COVID-19 Patients? A Concise Review of Reported Cases in the Literature

Etemad-Moghadam, Shahroo; Alaeddini, Mojgan

doi:https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/6648082

International Journal of Dentistry

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Abstract Introduction Discussion Conclusion Conflicts of Interest References Copyright Related Articles

Review Article | Open Access

Volume 2021 | Article ID 6648082 | https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/6648082

Is SARS-CoV-2 an Etiologic Agent or Predisposing Factor for Oral Lesions in COVID-19 Patients? A Concise Review of Reported Cases in the Literature

Shahroo Etemad-Moghadam¹and Mojgan Alaeddini¹

Academic Editor: Zohaib Khurshid

Received02 Nov 2020

Revised26 Jan 2021

Accepted04 May 2021

Published20 May 2021

Abstract

The pathogenic mechanism of SARS-CoV-2 infection is unclear, and its symptoms vary in different patients. Initial reports of COVID-19 concentrated on pulmonary issues, but with time, additional features such as hyposmia/anosmia, dysgeusia, and skin lesions were added to the list of COVID-19 symptoms. There have been an increasing number of reports on oral cavity lesions in individuals with COVID-19, which might be relevant considering that this location is one of the first sites coming into contact with the virus and that it contains the SARS-CoV-2 receptor. We hereby aim to familiarize practicing head and neck clinicians with the range of oral lesions reported in COVID-19 patients and to critically appraise the most recent data on the role of SARS-CoV-2 in these lesions. We also discuss the ongoing debate on the direct/indirect association of oral symptoms with the disease. COVID-19 cases with simultaneous oral symptoms were extracted from the literature, and articles discussing the role of SARS-CoV-2 in oral lesions were compiled and methodically analyzed. We found approximately 95 COVID-19 patients with a wide range of oral lesions. Based on current evidence, the exact role of SARS-CoV-2 in the development of oral lesions remains unclear. Oral examination of patients is needed to provide adequate cases for analysis to clarify unknown problems related to COVID-19. There is evidence to support both the direct and indirect roles of SARS-CoV-2 in the development of oral lesions. Awareness of the possibility of oral manifestations in COVID-19 is important to clarify the range of disease signs and symptoms.

1. Introduction

An unexplained viral pneumonia in a cluster of patients residing in Wuhan, China, soon became known as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and rapidly spread to more than 200 countries within 3 months. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was identified as its responsible pathogen and led to an ongoing pandemic [1].

SARS-CoV-2 is a single-stranded, positive-sense RNA virus, believed to originate from bats. The gold standard for its diagnosis is nucleic acid analysis of respiratory tract samples, through RT-PCR. IgM and IgG are also evaluated for the detection of infected cases and are simpler and more affordable than RT-PCR. Nucleic acid assessment is useful in the early stages of the disease, while IgM and IgG turn positive 10 and 20 days after infection, respectively [1]. SARS-CoV-2 is mainly transmitted through respiratory droplets and direct contact; however, the gastrointestinal tract, saliva, urine, and ocular secretions have also been suggested as potential routes, requiring further investigation [2, 3].

Symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, cough, dyspnea, fatigue, sore throat, headache, myalgia, abnormality in olfactory/gustatory senses, gastrointestinal issues, and less commonly, skin lesions. Common paraclinical findings include bilateral/unilateral infiltrates on chest X-ray [4], ground-glass opacity, and bilateral patchy shadowing on chest CT [2] and increases in neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio, plasma D-dimer, and lactate dehydrogenase, in severe cases [4].

A major concern during a pandemic is the identification of the infectious source. Considering that one of the main sources of infection in COVID-19 is the SARS-CoV-2-positive patient, it is important to know all the symptoms and major and minor manifestations of the disease in order to help obtain an early diagnosis. Based on a considerable number of reports, the oral cavity is one of the extrarespiratory sites that have shown manifestations in COVID-19 patients. Xerostomia, ageusia, and anosmia are among the more recognized symptoms in this location, which might occur before the conventional signs of COVID-19 [3]. However, reports on visible oral lesions in these patients are scattered and mostly in the form of case reports. The objective of the present review is to provide a compilation and analysis of the reported oral manifestations associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection to familiarize practicing head and neck clinicians with the possible oral presentation of COVID-19, whether a direct consequence of the infection or secondary to other causes. We also discuss the ongoing debate regarding the direct or indirect association of oral symptoms with COVID-19. Considering that subjective symptoms such as dry mouth and loss of taste/smell have been extensively reported elsewhere, we concentrate on oral mucosal lesions that could be observed and examined by the physician.

2. Search Strategy

A thorough search was performed in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar in a systematic manner using the following search strategy: (covid-19 OR “coronavirus disease 2019” OR sars-cov-2 OR “severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2”) AND (oral OR mouth OR enanthema OR gingiva OR periodontal OR tongue OR lingual OR labial OR lip) AND (features OR manifestations OR lesions OR symptoms OR co-infection OR co-occurrence OR reactivation). We considered all cases reported up until August 26, 2020, published in any article format (Case Report, Letter to Editor, Original Research, etc.). Even cases presented in tables and figures were extracted and added to the study. Lesions reported in unconfirmed COVID-19 cases were excluded. Full texts of all extracted reports were reviewed, and repetitive cases were omitted.

3. Oral Lesions Reported in COVID-19 Patients

Martín Carreras-Presas et al. [5], Chaux-Bodard et al. [6], and Galván Casas et al. [7] were among the first to add the oral cavity to the list of locations with possible COVID-19 involvement. Based on our search terms in the aforementioned databases, twenty-one articles were included in the study after omitting repetitions and applying our selection criteria to the 960 retrieved articles. We identified a total of 34 accounts of oral findings in COVID-19 patients, of which 16 had PCR confirmation and the rest were diagnosed by other means. A description of these individuals is presented in Table 1. There were a total of 14 men and 17 women with an age range of 9–96 years. There was no information on gender in 3 and age in 5 patients. An additional 8 pediatric patients with multisystem inflammatory syndrome associated with COVID-19 were also stated to have oral manifestations early in the disease, but no additional information was provided [22]. Fifty-three COVID-19 hospitalized patients were reported with oropharyngeal candidiasis, again with no detailed information [25]. The addition of these cases results in a total of 95 individuals infected with SARS-CoV-2 with some kind of oral lesion. All intraoral locations, including the tonsillar area, were reported to be involved in different articles. The clinical appearance of the lesions fell into a wide range, the most prevalent being ulcers, petechiae, and erythema. It is noteworthy that there were also reports of 5 cases demonstrating clinical signs/symptoms of COVID-19 and oral lesions, but they did not have laboratory confirmation of the disease and were reported to be “suspicious for COVID-19”. These are merely being descriptively mentioned for historic purposes. Two of the patients were male, 56 and 58 years of age, one of which had asthenia, fever, hyposmia, dysgeusia, and cervical lymph node enlargement for 2 days and complained of sore throat and palatal pain. Examination through teleconference revealed herpetic recurrent stomatitis-like lesions, and the patient reported no previous history of these types of lesions. The other patients also complained of palatal pain and showed multiple small palatal unilateral ulcers with no previous history of herpetic infection. He had hypertension and diabetes and most importantly was isolated at home with his wife who had confirmed COVID-19 [5]. The third patient was a 35-year-old woman who displayed fever, halitosis, bilateral submandibular lymphadenopathy, and a clinical diagnosis of necrotizing gingivitis [26]. Images of enanthemas in two other suspected COVID-19 patients, with no mention of sex or age, were provided as supplemental material and appeared as pustular eruption on the right soft palate and tonsillar area in one and petechiae on the soft and hard palate in the other patient [7].

4. Discussion

4.1. Pathophysiology of COVID-19

The structural proteins of SARS-CoV-2 consist of spike, membrane, envelope, and nucleocapsid. Attachment of the virus to target cells occurs through the spike, which undergoes cleavage after binding to the angiotensin-converting-enzyme-2 (ACE2) receptor. “Attachment,” is followed by “penetration,” by which the virus enters the host cell; “biosynthesis,” where viral RNA is replicated in the nucleus; “maturation” or production of viral particles, and finally “release” [27].

In advanced disease, SARS-CoV-2 induces exaggerated inflammation and systemic immune activation, which can give rise to a cytokine storm in its most severe form [28]. Lymphopenia occurs following the T-cell attack and innate/acquired immune responses, resulting in impaired lymphopoiesis and exacerbated lymphocyte apoptosis [29].

In severe cases, SARS-CoV-2 causes rampant coagulation activation and depletion of clotting factors, observed as the development of thrombotic complications and microthrombi [29]. Proinflammatory cytokines are responsible for this systemic coagulopathy by stimulating mononuclear cells to produce tissue factor and thrombin. This is supplemented by the generation of plasminogen activator and von Willebrand by directly infected ACE2-expressing endothelial cells [29].

In the cytokine storm, infected ACE2-expressing cells release numerous proinflammatory chemokines/chemoattractants that recruit leukocytes, which in turn produce TNF-α, IFN-γ, and various interleukins that trigger a proinflammatory cascade with immense cytokine expression. This leads to extensive vascular and organ injury as well as prothrombotic events such as platelet activation, production of reactive oxygen species, and reduction of proteins in charge of vascular protection [29, 30].

ACE2 receptors are the virus’s gateway to host cells. Their distribution in multiple tissues contributes to the multisystem involvement of COVID-19 and may support possible routes of virus entry. ACE2 has been reported on endothelial cells, salivary glands, and various epithelial cells, including those of the skin and nasal and oral mucosae. The role of ACE2 in SARS-CoV-2 infection has not been fully determined. ACE2 engagement by the virus and its function may be directly responsible for the diverse tissue involvement of COVID-19 [30].

4.2. Controversy on the Actuality of True Oral Manifestations in COVID-19

Following the initial reports of oral lesions in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection, there has been considerable debate on whether these lesions are true manifestations of the disease or have occurred as a secondary phenomenon due to other factors. Arguments in favor and against the direct association between oral manifestations and COVID-19 have been raised, both of which are predicated on the pathophysiology of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

4.2.1. Rationale in support of Oral Lesions Being a True Result of SARS-CoV-2 Infection

Since the mouth is one of the first sites that come into contact with SARS-CoV-2, it has been hypothesized that oral mucosal lesions may be the first sign of COVID-19 [31], especially considering the multiorgan involvement of the disease. Lack of oropharyngeal examination may explain the paucity of reports on oral manifestations of COVID-19 [20, 32].

The inflammatory reaction known to be associated with COVID-19 has been suggested as a possible explanation for oral lesions. In the case reported by Chaux-Bodard et al. [6], vascular inflammation related to SARS-CoV-2 was proposed to be responsible for the macular erythematous lesion found in their patient. In corroboration, inflammation-induced loss of taste and smell were pointed out to be confirmed symptoms of the disease [31]. Oral ulcerations were reported as an early symptom in 9 patients with pediatric multisystem inflammatory syndrome associated with COVID-19 [22]. Also, in agreement, Ciccarese et al. [19] reported petechiae on the skin, palate, and gingivae of a patient with COVID-19 and severe thrombocytopenia. Hyperinflammation triggered by SARS-CoV-2, followed by a cytokine storm and a prothrombotic state, was suggested to rationalize true COVID-19 lesions in their patient. Sakaida et al. [10] reported drug eruptions in a patient with oral and skin lesions after antibiotic/NSAID treatment which later turned into full-blown COVID-19. There was no fever or flu-like symptoms at the initial diagnosis of drug eruption. A skin biopsy showed deep lymphocytic infiltrations, which were stated as not being typical for drug eruptions. Development of drug hypersensitivity was suggested as not being “incidental” and possibly as a result of cytokine storm and Th17 dysregulation which occurs in COVID-related inflammation [10].

The occurrence of oral lesions in other viral infections comparable to those in COVID-19 has raised the possibility that SARS-CoV-2 may also be capable of inducing oral lesions [33]. Other viral infections such as HSV-1, HSV-2, CMV, and EBV have been tested in COVID-19 patients with oral involvement and were shown to be negative [13, 18]. Following the report of EM-like skin eruptions and oropharyngeal lesions in COVID-19 patients [11], it was emphasized that EM is much more likely to be caused by infectious agents than drug intake [8].

The histopathologic similarity between thrombotic vessels in oral lesions and the pulmonary diffuse thrombotic disease of SARS-CoV-2-infected patients was considered in favor of true oral manifestations. Microscopic observation of epithelial vacuolizations and exocytosis in addition to chronic inflammatory infiltration, necrosis, and hemorrhage in the absence of intubation trauma or other sources of infections was also suggested to be an indication of true lesions [18].

ACE2 is expressed in oral mucosa, particularly in epithelial cells of the tongue [22]. Damage caused by viral entry into vascular and mucosal cells through ACE2 attachment has been used to explain oral erosion [19], lingual pain [31], and inflammatory reactions [17] in COVID-19.

4.2.2. Rationale against Oral Lesions Being a True Result of SARS-CoV-19 Infection

Many agree that emotional stress [31, 32, 34] during lockdown can be the source of herpetic lesions, especially in those with underlying diseases related to a worse outcome [35].

Other explanations for oral lesions in COVID-19 patients include “coinfection” with HSV [31] or bacterial agents like those found in acute necrotizing gingivitis [26], “misdiagnosis” of other viral diseases such as herpes zoster [32, 34] or herpes simplex, “similarity of mild COVID-19 with other infections” [34], “reactivation” of oral HSV-1 [9, 34, 36], “co-occurrence” of herpes zoster and EM-like lesions [36] and COVID-19, “strong association” between herpes zoster and COVID-19 [32], and “overlapping diseases” [34].

Oral manifestations in COVID-19 have also been attributed to adverse effects of treatments [17, 34], use of antiseptic substances applied orally [31], drug-associated immunosuppression predisposing the patient to opportunistic infections [34], systemic health decline leading to secondary lesions [17], poor oral hygiene [31], and traumatic injuries [34]. Lack of synchronous occurrence of some of the reported lesions with the symptomatic phase of COVID-19 has also been used to reject true oral lesions [35].

Absence of oral symptoms in reports from active pandemic epicenters around the world, no self-reported oral lesions by patients on Twitter, and not observing any individuals with oral manifestations by researchers who interviewed COVID-19 patients for taste/smell disorders were also listed as factors against the direct association of SARS-CoV-2 and oral lesions [35].

4.3. Coinfection or Co-Occurrence of Other Pathogens in COVID-19

Signs and symptoms indicative of other infectious diseases in COVID-19 may prove to be coinfection or co-occurrence, but their observation deserves attention.

Viruses. Varicella-like exanthema is being repeatedly reported in COVID-19 patients [15, 16, 37]. Some have mentioned it as a varicella-like exanthema specific to COVID-19, with absent-mild pruritus, which is in contrast to true varicella [37]. Galván Casas et al. [7] raised the question as to whether SARS-CoV-2 could truly create varicella-like lesions and suggested the concept of coinfection. Others have tested the vesicle fluid of COVID-19 patients using herpesvirus (HV) family microarray PCR and reported combinations of HSVs, EBV, and VZV. Due to the lack of simultaneous testing of SARS-CoV-2, its additional participation was not rejected, but it was suggested that HSV and VZV should be ruled out before considering vesicular lesions as being COVID-19-related [15]. On the other hand, it has been proposed to regard herpes zoster as a sign of latent SARS-CoV-2 infection, even in individuals with none/mild upper respiratory symptoms. The premise was based on the lymphopenia known to accompany COVID-19, which is known to cause impaired antiviral response and promote HV recurrence [15, 16]. Fernandez-Nieto et al. [16] reported negative PCR results of SARS-CoV-2 in the vesicular fluid of 3/15 patients who exhibited recurrent herpes simplex or localized herpes zoster. Both HV and SARS-CoV-2 were also negative in the vesicular fluid of four COVID-19 patients [38].

HSV and VZV have also been considered to accompany oral manifestations of COVID-19 in different capacities [34, 36]. At least 9 cases of oral HSV reactivation have been reported in the literature; however, only some had definitive test results to confirm HV and rule out SARS-CoV-2 [9].

Bacteria. Metagenomic analyses of COVID-19 patients demonstrated high reads of bacteria, some of which are involved in oral diseases [26]. The oral microbiome can contribute to bacterial SARS-CoV-2 coinfection of the lungs through mechanical and/or increased ventilation, cough, and poor oral hygiene. The virus-bacteria interaction can lead to modifications in cytokines and lymphocytic responses resulting in exacerbation of lung disease. Meticulous oral health care was suggested, especially in those with severe COVID-19 [39].

Fungi. Among 1059 hospitalized patients with confirmed SARS-CoV-2, 53 had confirmed oropharyngeal candidiasis, appearing as pseudomembranous lesions, white plaques, and erythematous areas in the oral mucosa. Exaggerated cytokine release and disturbances in cellular immune response may be responsible for fungal coinfections. The importance of examining fungal infections in COVID-19 patients was highlighted [25].

4.4. Overview and General Perspective

Since the COVID-19 outbreak, lesions that were routinely diagnosed before the pandemic are being contemplated differently. For example, a febrile patient presenting with pharyngotonsillitis and numerous posterior oral vesicles and ulcers would have been diagnosed as primary herpes simplex infection, whereas with the current situation and reports of similar lesions in COVID-19, the clinician may reconsider and hesitate before making this diagnosis. General concern about workplace contamination and the possibility of staff infection and viral transmission have further complicated the situation and resulted in a possible overdiagnosis of COVID-19.

Highlighting the lack of oral presentation in COVID-19 was suggested to be important by those opposed to the idea of true SARS-CoV-2-related oral lesions. This was to eliminate unnecessary stress among patients with mere oral symptoms and to help clinicians make accurate treatment decisions when encountering oral ulcers, vesiculobullous lesions, or inflammation. Based on this notion, these types of lesions should not be considered as being related to SARS-CoV-2 infection and be managed routinely [35].

This might be true if we assume that COVID-19 definitely could not be accompanied by oral manifestations. However, there may be merit to the reasons given in favor of true oral lesions in this disease. For example, the relationship between COVID-19-induced inflammation/microthrombi [7] and the abovementioned cases [6, 7, 10, 31] seems logical. Inflammation can both directly cause tissue damage and indirectly pave the way for other issues like increased hypersensitivity. Additionally, the demonstration of ACE2 receptors in the oral mucosa [22] and viral particles in saliva [40] can support or at least raise the possibility of true COVID-19 oral lesions [19, 20]. Some studies have reported oral lesions early in the course of disease [7, 10] or their occurrence without conventional systemic symptoms [6]. Therefore, disregarding them completely may result in missing a positive case leading to infection spread.

Appearances similar to other infections do not take away from the attention that should be given to lesions encountered in COVID-19 and cannot provide definitive evidence to rule out SARS-CoV-2 infection. Moderation should be employed in the diagnostic process, and until definitive information is available on pathognomonic oral lesions of COVID-19, the list of differential diagnoses for an erythematous desquamative ulcerative lesion or purpura on the oral mucosa should also include SARS-CoV-2 infection as a possibility and the patient be advised to practice caution and be tested if necessary.

4.5. Hypotheses for Patient Management, Prompting Further Research

SARS-CoV-2 infection remains a public health issue, and to date, there are no definitive or specific treatment modalities for infective individuals, and worldwide vaccination has not been achieved. Therefore, repurposing safe, available, and affordable drugs that target any of the pathways involved in COVID-19 might be helpful as adjuncts in the management of patients with this disease. A few approaches that require further research are proposed.

Proton pump inhibitors reduce stomach acid by forming an irreversible bond to hydrogen/potassium ATPase in gastric parietal cells [41]. They have been suggested as treatment options and conversely as risk factors [42] for COVID-19. However, there are studies that support their inhibitory effects on infectious agents that are frequently found in COVID-19 coinfections like HSV-1/ HSV-2 [43] and Candida albicans [44]. Whether the use of these drugs is beneficial or detrimental to COVID-19 patients needs further investigation.

Photodisinfection or antimicrobial photodisinfection therapy is a noninvasive technique that uses light irradiation to excite a photosensitizer molecule into a cytotoxic state [45]. It has been employed for treating oral and other infectious diseases. SARS-CoV-2 exists in saliva and can attach to ACE2 receptors in the oral cavity [22, 40]. The bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of COVID-19 patients has been shown to possess oral pathogens, which can lead to coinfections, highlighting the importance of eliminating oral infections [39]. Photodisinfection might be an option to decrease viral/microbial load in the oral cavity, especially in the initial stages of COVID-19 symptom onset when salivary viral load is highest [40]. This might help reduce transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in addition to decreasing the chance of pulmonary coinfections. Considering that photosensitizers can affect the performance of antimicrobial photodisinfection therapy, evaluating agents like curcumin with anti-inflammatory/antimicrobial activities [45] could be an intriguing idea for further research. Other studies have also highlighted the importance of reducing salivary viral load and suggested the use of mouthwashes, especially in dental settings [46].

Endogenous opioids are compounds with anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory features [47] suggested as potential safe treatment agents for COVID-19, especially in those accompanied by cytokine storm [48]. However, they can increase susceptibility to some oral infections and have been shown to potentiate HSV-1-induced encephalitis after acute exposure [49]. The applicability of these agents in COVID-19 requires additional investigation.

SARS-CoV-2 spike subunits bind to ACE2 receptors, after which cleavage takes place mainly through transmembrane protease serine 2, but also by other polyprotein convertases, like furin and cathepsin [6]. Adam10 and Adam17 are ACE2 sheddases and are expressed in normal oral epithelium [50] adding to the chance of virus fusion and increased tropism. Their upregulation in oral squamous cell carcinoma [51] might indicate a higher chance of SARS-CoV-2 infection in patients with this cancer. This requires further exploring while taking into account that pharmaceutical blockers have been developed against these sheddases [51].

5. Conclusion

To date, a total of 100 COVID-19 patients were reported to have oral lesions, including reactivations, coinfections, and co-occurrences. Based on current data, it is not possible to determine with certainty, whether these lesions are a direct result of SARS-CoV-2 infection or due to other causes like stress, coinfection/co-occurrence, or drug reactions. There are justifications in support of both concepts. At this time, observing oral lesions similar to those reported in COVID-19 patients can neither confirm nor rule out the disease without additional testing. Similarly, considering the possibility of coinfection, even with a definite diagnosis of a non-COVID-19 lesion, we cannot be certain of the absence of COVID-19. Until the pandemic is under control, research on available safe drugs or techniques could be helpful in the introduction of substances that can be used as adjuncts to COVID-19 management.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

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Copyright © 2021 Shahroo Etemad-Moghadam and Mojgan Alaeddini. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

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