Mucositis prevention by improved dental care in acute leukemia patients.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of the intensive dental care protocol in preventing oral complications in acute leukemia patients.


METHODS
Thirty-four patients hospitalized for induction remission therapy for acute leukemia were randomly assigned to one of two groups, whether to receive intensive dental care protocol or not. The intensive dental care group of patients received dental treatment and plaque and calculus removal prior to chemotherapy and supervised oral hygiene measures during chemotherapy. The limited dental care group of patients did not receive prechemotherapy dental care. Groups were comparable in age, sex, and antineoplastic treatment received. Patients were examined after admission to the hospital; at the initiation of the chemotherapy; and 7, 14, 21, and 28 days after initiation of therapy. Positive data about subjective difficulties were taken by anamnesis. Oral hygiene index (OHI) and gingival index (GI) were used to assess the periodontal status of the patients. The severity of mucositis was evaluated according to WHO classification.


RESULTS
The results of this study pointed out lower mean values of GI and lower mean values of mucositis score in the intensive dental care group of patients during the whole period of examination. Although the differences in mean values were not statistically significant on most of the examination days, intensive dental care group of patients developed less severe and less painful oral complications compared to the limited dental care group of patients.


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that proper dental care and preventive measures both before and during chemotherapy can be beneficial to these patients.
Djuric
Milanko
M
Clinic for Dentistry, Faculty of Medicine, Hajduk Veljkova 12, 21000, Novi Sad, Serbia and Montenegro. mdjuric@eunet.yu
Hillier-Kolarov
Valeria
V
Belic
Aranka
A
Jankovic
Ljiljana
L
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003729:Dental Care / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007938:Leukemia / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D052016:Mucositis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009910:Oral Hygiene; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents