Assessment of salivary flow rate and secretory immunoglobulin a and oral mucosal changes in acute myeloid leukemia before and after the induction phase of chemotherapy

Abstract EN

Background : Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a hematological disorder characterized by the presence of immature hematopoietic cells in the bone marrow and blood.

These malignant cells do not differentiate normally, and thus may block the differentiation of the remaining normal hematopoietic precursors.

Chemotherapy is the treatment of choice of AML.

The aim of the study was to determine the salivary flow rate and the S-IgA secretion rate in AML patients before and after chemotherapy and to assess oral mucositis after chemotherapy and to report any other oral mucosal manifestations.

Materials and Methods : A total of 40 patients just diagnosed as having acute myeloid leukemia participated in the study.

The control group consisted of 20 healthy subjects.

Clinical oral examination took place at the time of the diagnosis, and again one month following chemotherapy.

Results : The most serious oral complication is the mucositis which developed in (52.5%) of AML patients after chemotherapy.

Before chemotherapy the salivary flow rate and S-IgA secretion rate were significantly lower than their values in healthy subjects (p < 0.001 and p < 0.007), after chemotherapy, a further reduction in their values was detected.

AML patients with oral mucositis presented with lower S-IgA level compared with their counterparts with no mucositis (p<0.02).

Conclusion : Oral mucositis is a common and serious problem during chemotherapy.

The salivary flow rate and S-IgA levels are significantly reduced in AML patients undergoing chemotherapy which in turn affect general oral health status.