Abstract: PURPOSE: To study the relationship between abnormal iron metabolism and cellular immune dysfunction and recurrent oral ulcer. METHODS: A cross-sectional analysis of serum iron, ferritin and cellular immune function in 100 patients with recurrent oral ulcer and 100 healthy cases as control were performed. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to evaluate the relationship between serum ferritin and cellular immunity and recurrent oral ulcer using SPSS 19.0 software package. RESULTS: Serum iron, ferritin, CD3⁺, CD4⁺ and CD4⁺/CD8⁺ concentration significantly decreased in Rou group compared with the control group (P<0.01). Multiple logistic regression analysis showed serum iron, ferritin and CD3⁺, CD4⁺ decrease were the independent risk factors for the onset of ROU, whereas CD4⁺/CD8⁺ were the protective factors in the pathogenesis of ROU(P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Iron deficiency and cellular immune function is closely related to the pathogenesis of ROU.

Key words: Recurrent oral ulcer, Iron deficiency, Cellular immune function