CHEMOTHERAPY-ASSOCIATED ORAL MUCOSAL LESIONS IN PATIENTS WITH LEUKEMIA OR LYMPHOMA

In order to determine the incidence rate of oral lesions associated wi th chemotherapy, as well as its association with clinical and laborato ry parameters and potential risk factors, 50 in-patients with non-Hodg kin's lymphoma or leukaemia under chemotherapy were followed from Janu ary 1993 to May 1994. Basal and weekly oral examinations were performe d. Clinical and laboratory data were registered. Wilcoxon's rank sum t est, chi square test, univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used. 36 individuals with leukaemia and 14 with non-Hodg kin's lymphoma were followed for 158 weeks; mean age was 33 years (ran ge 15-85). Oral lesion incidence rate was 45/100 patients-week. Exfoli ative cheilitis and infections (herpes and candidosis) were the most c ommon oral complications, followed by haemorrhagic lesions and mucosit is. Haemorrhagic lesions correlated with thrombocytopenia (RR = 30.5). Etoposide administration (RR = 8.6), alkylating agents (RR = 15.6), a prior course of chemotherapy (RR = 23.2) and neutropenia (RR = 4.16) were predictors of mucositis. Oral lesions were a common complication in this study, and a possible association of mucositis with several fa ctors is suggested. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd.