Oral mucosal lesions, microbial changes, and taste disturbances induced by adjuvant chemotherapy in breast cancer patients.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to examine oral mucosal lesions, microbial changes, and taste disturbances induced by adjuvant chemotherapy (CT) in breast cancer patients during and 1 year after treatment. STUDY DESIGN: Forty-five consecutive breast cancer patients, eligible for adjuvant CT with cyclophosphamide, epirubicin or methotrexate, and 5-fluorouracil were followed before, during, 6 months and 1 year after CT and were compared to a control group of 31 breast cancer patients not receiving adjuvant CT. RESULTS: During CT, oral mucosal lesions developed including erythema (n = 10, 22%) and ulceration (n = 7, 16%). Five patients (11%) were diagnosed with oral candidosis. Scores of dental bacterial plaque and gingival inflammation increased during CT and the oral microbial composition changed towards a more acidophilic flora. Taste disturbances were experienced by 84% (n = 38) of the patients in the CT group. CONCLUSION: In breast cancer patients, moderate-intensive adjuvant CT caused oral mucosal lesions, oral candidosis, taste disturbances and a more acidophilic oral microflora. These adverse effects were temporary and the majority of the patients were mildly affected.

[Severe intoxication after combined chemotherapy of a sigma-adenocarcinoma with peptichemio and 5-fluorouracil (author's transl)]. / Schwere Intoxikation nach kombinierter Chemotherapie eines Sigma-Adenokarzinoms mit Peptichemio und 5-Fluorouracil.

After perioperative adjuvant chemotherapy of a sigma-adenocarcinoma with 400 mg peptichemio and 500 mg 5-fluorouracil a 61-year-old woman developed a severe intoxication: myelosuppression with pancytopenia, gastroenteritis and ulcerative proctitis, toxic hepato- and myocardiopathy, impaired renal function and alopecia. As a result of reduced resistance pneumonias, urinary tract infection, sepsis, cytomegaly infection and candidiasis of the oral mucosa occurred. The toxic effects are attributed mainly to the high dose of peptichemio.

Steroid aerosols in asthma: an assessment of betamethasone valerate and a 12-month study of patients on maintenance treatment.

Betamethasone valerate aerosol is a new compound for the treatment of asthma. Its clinical effectiveness was established in a double-blind cross-over trial in non-steroid-dependent asthmatic patients. At a dosage of 400 to 800 mug/day for three months there was no evidence of suppression of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal function, as assessed by tetracosactrin and insulin stress tests.A 12-month follow-up study of 120 patients using steroid aerosols (betamethasone valerate or beclomethasone dipropionate) indicated that tolerance does not develop and that a daily maintenance dose of 200 mug/day was adequate in most patients. Temporary lack of response was observed during episodes of sputum production or of heavy exposure to antigen.There were no observed side effects other than fungal infections of the respiratory tract. However, the incidence of candidiasis of the pharynx (13%) and particularly of the larynx (5%) in apparently immunologically normal patients was disturbing. These infections were not seen in patients taking 200 mug/day. Though there is yet no evidence that fungal infections associated with steroid aerosols may penetrate the trachea and bronchi the possibility of this indicates that caution should be exercised in their use, particularly in long-term high dosage.