Randomized double-blind clinical trial comparing clobetasol and dexamethasone for the topical treatment of symptomatic oral chronic graft-versus-host disease.

Patients who undergo allogeneic stem cell transplantation frequently develop an immunologic disease caused by the reactivation of the graft to the host tissues. This disease is called graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and it is usually a systemic disorder. In a large proportion of cases, oral disorders that are related to a chronic phase of GVHD (cGVHD) occur, and their treatment involves the use of topical immunosuppressive drugs. Several medications have been studied for this purpose, but only a small number of clinical trials have been published. The present study is a randomized, double-blind clinical trial that compares topical clobetasol and dexamethasone for the treatment of symptomatic oral cGVHD. Patients were randomly assigned to treatment with clobetasol propionate .05% or dexamethasone .1 mg/mL for 28 days. In both arms, nystatin 100,000 IU/mL was administered with the corticosteroid. Oral lesions were evaluated by the modified oral mucositis rating scale (mOMRS) and symptoms were registered using a visual analogue scale. Thirty-five patients were recruited, and 32 patients were randomized into the study groups: 18 patients (56.3%) to the dexamethasone group and 14 patients (43.8%) to the clobetasol group. The use of clobetasol resulted in a significant reduction in mOMRS total score (P = .04) and in the score for ulcers (P = .03). In both groups, there was significant symptomatic improvement but the response was significantly greater in the clobetasol group (P = .02). In conclusion, clobetasol was significantly more effective than dexamethasone for the amelioration of symptoms and clinical aspects of oral lesions in cGVHD.

Chronic graft versus host disease: a scleroderma-like case report

INTRODUCTION: Chronic graft versus host disease (cGVHD) is the most common consequence of allogeneic bone marrow transplantation, and it is associated with morbidity and mortality. Oral manifestations are diagnosed in approximately 80 percent of patients with chronic GVHD. OBJECTIVE: To present a case of chronic GVHD with scleroderma-like lesions in skin and oral cavity CASE REPORT: A 27-year-old female was admitted, in a Hematology Center, in 1997, with previous diagnosis of chronic myeloid leukemia since 1994. Over past four months after allogeneic BTM she developed cGVHD in eyes, mouth, liver, lungs and skin. The patient presented sclerotic skin changes, hyperkeratosis of hands and xerophthalmia. CONCLUSION: Clinical manifestations of chronic GVHD are similar to autoimmune collagen vascular disease and the two main types of cutaneous chronic GVHD are lichenoid and sclerodermatous.

Oral involvement of chronic graft-versus-host disease in hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients.

Oral manifestations are common in patients who are diagnosed with chronic graft-versus-host-disease (cGVHD). These manifestations can present as oral mucosal lesions, salivary gland dysfunction, or reduction of the mouth opening due to cutaneous sclerosis. Although several studies have reported the prevalence of oral involvement in cGVHD, few have reported details of different types and severity of oral lesions of cGVHD, according to the NIH. Furthermore, the authors are aware of only one published study concerning oral manifestations of cGVHD in Brazil. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence and severity of oral involvement of cGVHD. Oral evaluation of hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) recipients was conducted on 22 patients (12 men and 10 women) from December 2007 to May 2009. The following categories were assessed: Age, gender, underlying disease, time postHSCT, history of GVHD, therapy for GVHD, oral lesions, xerostomia, resting salivary flow rate, and mouth opening. Oral lesions were classified according to NIH criteria, and the results were submitted to a descriptive analysis. According to the NIH, patients presented diagnostic (40.9%), distinctive (31.9%), and common (9.1%) features of oral cGVHD. Oral involvement of cGVHD was identified in 81.8% of patients, 68.2% as mucosal lesions and 59.1% as salivary gland dysfunction. Reduced mouth opening was observed in 12 patients (80%), with one case associated with cutaneous sclerosis. Oral involvement was frequent in these patients; for many, it was the first clinical manifestation of cGVHD.

Diretrizes para o diagnóstico, classificação, profilaxia e tratamento da doença enxerto contra hospedeiro crônica / Guidelines for the diagnosis, classification, prophylaxis and treatment of chronic graft-versus-host disease

A falta de critérios diagnósticos padronizados, amplamente utilizados, pode comprometer tanto a avaliação real da incidência da doença contra hospedeiro crônica bem como a correlação de sua gravidade com a taxa de mortalidade pós-transplante. Na I Reunião de Diretrizes da Sociedade Brasileira de Transplante de Medula Óssea, realizada em junho de 2009, o Grupo de Estudos de DECH Brasil - Seattle (GEDECH), baseado na realidade dos Centros brasileiros, apresentou as recomendações para diagnóstico, classificação, profilaxia e tratamento da doença enxerto contra hospedeiro crônica propostas pelo National Institutes of Health. Estas propostas incluíram padronização das características utilizadas no diagnóstico e ferramentas para a pontuação dos órgãos envolvidos e avaliação global da gravidade a serem utilizados em estudos clínicos da doença enxerto contra hospedeiro crônica. Estes critérios são úteis para uma melhor análise da incidência desta doença, além de poder avaliar a gravidade do comprometimento de um órgão ou sítio envolvido e a influência na mortalidade tardia do transplante. A profilaxia e os tratamentos propostos para esta importante complicação dos transplantes de células-tronco hematopoéticas foram discutidos e graduados de acordo com níveis de evidência estabelecidos pelo National Institutes of Health.

The lack of widely-used standardized diagnostic criteria may impair both the true evaluation of chronic graft-versus-host disease and the correlation of its severity with transplant-related mortality. At the I Consensus of the Brazilian Society of Bone Marrow Transplantation - SBTMO that took place in June 2009, the Group of GVHD Studies Brazil-Seattle (GEDECH), presented the guidelines for diagnosis, classification, prophylaxis and treatment of chronic GVHD as proposed by the National Institutes of Health and based on the reality in Brazilian Centers. These proposals, including standardization of features used in diagnosis and tools to score involved organs and to assess the overall severity, should be used in clinical studies of chronic graft-versus-host disease. These criteria are useful to better analyze the incidence of this disease, in addition to evaluate the extension of the involvement of organs or the site affected and its influence on late transplantation mortality. Prophylaxis and treatment proposed for this important complication of hematopoietic stem cell transplantations were discussed and graded according to the levels of evidence established by the National Institutes of Health.

Oral HPV infection in a bone marrow transplantation patient: a case report with atypical clinical presentation and unexpected outcome.

HPV (Human Papilloma Virus) is one of the most prevalent infections worlwide. Oral HPV infection may be associated with different diseases of oral cavitie. Although oral HPV infection occurs frequently, it rarely causes lesions. An increased rate of oral HPV-induced lesions is observed in people with an impaired immune system. The most common conditions induced by oral HPV infection are focal epithelial hyperplasia, oral condylomas and oral papillomas. We reported a case of oral HPV lesion in a bone marrow transplantation patient with atypical clinical presentation and unexpected outcome.

Oral HPV infection in a bone marrow transplantation patient: a case report with atypical clinical presentation and unexpected outcome

HPV (Human Papilloma Virus) is one of the most prevalent infections worlwide. Oral HPV infection may be associated with different diseases of oral cavitie. Although oral HPV infection occurs frequently, it rarely causes lesions. An increased rate of oral HPV-induced lesions is observed in people with an impaired immune system. The most common conditions induced by oral HPV infection are focal epithelial hyperplasia, oral condylomas and oral papillomas. We reported a case of oral HPV lesion in a bone marrow transplantation patient with atypical clinical presentation and unexpected outcome.

Herpetic geometric glossitis: acyclovir resistant case in a patient with acute myelogenous leukemia.

Herpes simplex virus (HSV) infections in an immunocompromised host may be atypical in location and morphology. Lesions are more extensive and aggressive, slow healing or nonhealing and extremely painful. Intraoral lesions are ulcerative and may involve any intraoral, oropharyngeal, or esophageal site. Herpetic geometric glossitis is a recently described form of lingual HSV infection in an immunocompromised patient. It was described as ulcer on the dorsum of the tongue sensitive for acyclovir therapy. A patient is presented with acute myelogenous leukemia that developed herpetic geometric glossitis which was acyclovir resistant.

The role of basic oral care and good clinical practice principles in the management of oral mucositis.

BACKGROUND: The Basic Oral Care Group is one of eight subcommittees functioning within the Mucositis Study Group Guidelines Panel of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer and International Society for Oral Oncology (MASCC/ISOO). The Basic Oral Care Group, comprised of the four authors of this paper, represented the disciplines of nursing (DBM, JJ), dentistry (MEPC), and pediatric dentistry (PW). This group reviewed research and clinical literature to update the original 2004 Mucositis Management Guidelines in the areas of basic oral care, bland rinses, protocols and education, and good clinical practices such as pain management, oral assessment, oral care, and dental care. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Over 100 articles published between 2000 and 2005 were identified, and 32 of these were useful for the analysis. Each article was rated by at least two authors using a structured rating form and systematic determination of levels of evidence, based on the American Society of Clinical Oncology criteria. Discussion at the 2005 MASCC/ISOO Geneva pre-conference meeting of the Guidelines Panel resulted in the development of consensus on the interpretation of the literature. RESULTS: Based on the literature and on Panel discussions, a revision of the original guidelines for protocols and education was produced by the group, and they developed a set of recommendations related to good clinical practices. CONCLUSIONS: Although research remains scanty for components of basic oral care, bland rinses, protocols, and education, the original 2004 guidelines with the help of newer literature from 2000 to 2005 and expert consensus among the Guidelines Panel enabled the development of useful clinical practice guidelines for managing oral mucositis in patients receiving cancer treatment with radiation and/or chemotherapy.

Clinical impact of oral health indexes in dental extraction of hemophilic patients.

PURPOSE: Periodontal disease in patients with hemorrhagic disorders may lead to severe bleeding during dental treatment. This study evaluated the clinical impact of oral health indexes in hemophilic patients undergoing tooth extraction. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirty-one hemophilic patients underwent teeth extractions using autologous fibrin glue and an oral antifibrinolytic drug (epsilon-aminocaproic acid). Oral health indexes (plaque, PI; gingival, GI; and decay-missing-filling-teeth, DMFT index) were evaluated before tooth extraction. RESULTS: Postsurgical bleeding episodes were observed in 6 hemophilic patients (1 severe, 3 moderate, and 2 mild type). The PI and GI index in the bleeding group were 1.8 and 1.7, respectively, and 1.8 for both of the non-bleeding groups (PI, P = .8; GI, P = .56). The global DMFT index was 18 in the bleeding group and 19.6 in the non-bleeding group (P = .67). CONCLUSION: The status of oral health did not interfere with bleeding caused by dental extraction of hemophilic patients.