Chemotherapy-induced oral complications in leukemic patients

SummaryThe adverse effects of chemotherapy frequently involve the oral cavity, but the severity of oral complications caused by different chemotherapy protocols is unknown.ObjectiveTo compare the frequency of oral complications in patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia treated with the GBTLI-93 and BFM protocols.Patients and methodsTwenty patients ranging in age from 2 to 13 years were submitted to visual and tactile examination of the teeth, periodontium and soft tissues on the day of admission and over the 3 weeks following the first phase of chemotherapy.ResultsNo significant difference in the proportion of patients with complications was observed between the two protocols over the 3 weeks. Complications were more frequent immediately after administration of the chemotherapeutic agents, with a gradual decline over the following 3 weeks.ConclusionsOral complications occur in patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia irrespective of the chemotherapy protocol used for treatment, with a higher frequency being observed in the first week after the beginning of antineoplastic therapy.