Intensity and duration of neutropenia relates to the development of oral mucositis but not odontogenic infection during chemotherapy for hematological malignancy

PLoS One. 2017 Jul 27;12(7):e0182021. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0182021. eCollection 2017.

Abstract

Background: D-index which combines the intensity and duration of neutropenia is reported as a tool for evaluating the dynamics of neutropenia. This study aimed to analyze the relationship between D-index and oral complications (i.e., oral mucositis [OM] and odontogenic infection [OI]) during chemotherapies for hematological malignancies.

Methods: A total of 421 chemotherapeutic courses in 104 patients were analyzed. Chemotherapeutic courses in patients who finished all of the prophylactic dental treatments were defined as "treatment Finish". Chemotherapeutic courses in patients who did not finish prophylactic dental treatments were defined as "treatment not-Finish". OM was evaluated according to the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events, version 4.0. D-index was compared between chemotherapeutic courses with versus without oral complications.

Results: D-index was significantly higher in chemotherapeutic courses with grade 1 or 2 OM (p < 0.001) than courses without OM. In contrast, higher D-index did not relate to the development of OI (p = 0.18). The occurrence of OI (p < 0.001) but not OM (p = 0.56) during chemotherapy was significantly higher in chemotherapeutic courses without the completion of dental intervention.

Conclusions: Higher D-index relates to the development of OM. In contrast, OI occurs due to untreated odontogenic foci, and its occurrence does not relate to higher D-index.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Antineoplastic Agents / adverse effects*
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Female
  • Hematologic Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Humans
  • Jaw Diseases / etiology*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neutropenia / chemically induced*
  • Neutropenia / complications*
  • Stomatitis / etiology*
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents

Grants and funding

This study was not supported by any grants. The authors received no specific funding for this work.