title: Longitudinal assessment of immunological and oral clinical conditions in patients undergoing anticancer treatment for leukemia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the evolution of the immunological and oral clinical conditions of children and adolescents undergoing anticancer treatment for leukemia (ATL).
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty patients aged 3-15 years undergoing chemotherapy seen at a referral center for cancer treatment in the State of Maranhão, Brazil, from 2008 to 2009, were evaluated at baseline (1st). Twenty-two controls were selected in public schools. Oral lesions, caries experience (deft and DMFT), plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI) and salivary IgA were analyzed. Patients and controls were evaluated after 6 months (2nd). The Shapiro Wilk, Mann-Whitney, Wilkoxon and Spearman correlation tests were carried out (alpha=5%).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Gingivitis and mucositis were the most frequent manifestations in oral mucosae during the two phases. The mean DMFT index increased from 3.9 ± 4.2 (1st) to 4.4 ± 4.3 (2nd) (p = 0.04). The mean deft index was the same in the 1st (1.9 ± 2.7) and 2nd (1.9 ± 2.7) evaluation (p = 0.86). The GI also did not vary between assessments: 1st (1.3 ± 0.4) and 2nd (1.3 ± 0.3) - (p = 0.12), except on the lingual and distal surfaces, where increased from the 1st to 2nd evaluation (p < 0.01). The PI varied from 0.9 to 1.1, but this difference was not significant (p = 0.48), except for the lingual surface, where increased from 0.6 to 1.0 (p = 0.04). There was a reduction in salivary IgA levels from 2.9 to 1.9 μg/mL (p = 0.04), and mean IgA was significantly higher in the control group (5.4 μg/mL) if compared to cases (p < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The clinical and immunological oral conditions of children and adolescents undergoing ATL presented an unfavorable evolution. This study highlights the need for monitoring oral conditions during the ATL and draws attention to the additional responsibility of the otolaryngologist in referring ATL patients to the dentist, especially in the presence of clinical evidence of oral problems. We suggest that the planning of ATL take into account the oral health, in a multidisciplinary oncology team.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Federal University from Maranhão, São Luís, MA, Brazil. ebthomaz@globo.com
authors.forename: Erika Barbara Abreu Fonseca
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Thomaz
authors.forename: José Carlos Elias
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Mouchrek
authors.forename: Adriana Quinzeiro
authors.initials: AQ
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Rosane Nassar Meireles
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Guerra
authors.forename: Silvana Amado
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Libério
authors.forename: Maria Carmen Fontoura Nogueira
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: da Cruz
authors.forename: Antônio Luís Amaral
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Pereira
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001938:Brazil; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007938:Leukemia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents