Mucositis in irradiated cancer patients: effects of an antiseptic mouthrinse.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the effects of an antiseptic, non-alcohol based mouth-rinse containing chlorhexidine and cetylpyridinium chloride, in preventing the oral complications associated to radiation therapy in head-and-neck cancer patients.


METHODS
This was a parallel, double blind, prospective, randomized clinical trial. Cancer patients were randomly assigned to one of the two treatments (test mouth-rinse or a placebo). Three visits were scheduled (baseline, 14 and 28 days). Different outcome variables were evaluated: mucositis, plaque and gingival indices, stimulated saliva and salivary pH.


RESULTS
70 patients were screened and 36 were included. The presence and the degree of mucositis significantly increased in both groups and no significant differences were detected between groups, although the median increase in the placebo group (1.81) at 2 weeks was higher than in the test group (1.20).


CONCLUSIONS
Within the limitations of the small sample size, this study suggests that the use of the tested mouth-rinse may lead to some improvements in clinical parameters in patients irradiated for head-and-neck cancer.
Lanzós
Isabel
I
Faculty of Odontology, University Complutense, Madrid, Spain.
Herrera
David
D
Santos
Sagrario
S
O'Connor
Ana
A
Peña
Carmen
C
Lanzós
Eduardo
E
Sanz
Mariano
M
D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002594:Cetylpyridinium / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002710:Chlorhexidine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009067:Mouthwashes / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013280:Stomatitis / Q000517:prevention & control*
D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D009067:Mouthwashes; D002594:Cetylpyridinium; D002710:Chlorhexidine