title: Oral health profile of cirrhotic patients awaiting liver transplantation in the Brazilian Northeast.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Infections are a frequent cause of morbidity and mortality among postoperative liver transplant (OLT) patients and a leading cause of decompensated chronic liver disease (CLD) among patients awaiting the procedure. Oral lesions that are frequently observed in subjects with CLD may represent foci for systemic infections before and after OLT.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the oral health profile of patients with CLD awaiting OLT.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred thirty one patients including 100 males of overall mean age 49.5 ± 10.8 years with CLD were listed for OLT and examined for oral health status according to a established protocol.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred thirty (99%) patients were partially edentulous; 66 (51%) had chewing difficulties; and 63 (48%) experienced reduced salivary flow. With respect to periodontal disease and oral infections, 68 (25%) had periodontitis, 63 (48%) had periapical lesion, 64 (49%) had abscesses, and 59 (45%) had root fragments. Loss of follow-up was observed in 21 subjects. Among the 110 other patients, 63 (57%) underwent dental treatments with complications in only two cases. Interestingly, mortality was significantly lower among treated (31%) versus nontreated patient (79%; P<.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Poor oral health status observed in most CLD patients may represent a source of systemic infections before and after OLT. Treatment of such lesions was feasible in the majority of the patients and seemed to be associated with a reduction in mortality.
authors.affiliation: Bahiana School of Medicine and Public Health, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. liliane@linsreabilitacao.com.br
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lins
authors.forename: P L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Bittencourt
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Evangelista
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lins
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Codes
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Cavalcanti
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Paraná
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bastos
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009059:Mouth Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy; D009909:Oral Health; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D014850:Waiting Lists / Q000401:mortality