Tongue Coating: Test and Diagnosis

2nd order laboratory parameters – depending on the results of the medical history and physical examination – for differential diagnostic clarification.

  • Small blood count
  • Inflammatory parameters – CRP (C-reactive protein).
  • Fasting glucose, if necessary oral glucose tolerance test (oGTT).
  • Vitamin B6, B12, folic acid
  • Iron, ferritin, transferrin
  • Zinc
  • Bacteriological and mycological cultures
  • Tongue swab, tongue biopsy (tissue sampling from the tongue) if necessary.
  • Detection of autoantibodies (IgG) against antigens in the cytoplasm of the salivary duct epithelium (biopsy material) (SS-A and SS-B (specific antibodies of ANA)) and autoantibodies against α-fodrin – in suspected Sjögren’s syndrome [SS-A pos.: 40-80%; SS-B pos.: 40-80%; ANA pos.: 70% of cases].
  • AECA (anti-endothelial cell antibodies) – in suspected Kawasaki syndrome.