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Mucositis care in acute leukemia and non-Hodgkin lymphoma patients undergoing high-dose chemotherapy

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Abstract

Purpose

This study intends to provide new insights into the incidence and care of mucositis by the epidemiological characterization of patients with hematological malignancy treated at our institution. It also aims to understand the effectiveness of several treatments used.

Methods

This is a longitudinal observational single-center study—convenience sample—which includes malignant hematologic inpatients submitted to high-dose CT from February to August 2012. We registered epidemiological data, diagnosis, oral mucositis daily questionnaire (OMDQ), World Health Organization (WHO) oral toxicity scale, and supportive medications used for mucositis.

Results

We evaluated 30 patients who had 73 episodes of hospitalization, having recorded the development of mucositis in 21.9 % (n = 16) episodes (22 patients with acute leukemia (AL) and 8 patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL)). Grades 3–4 mucositis was reported in 4.1 % of the total episodes. The results of OMDQ showed some limitations in the quality of life, of patients with mucositis, related with the ability to eat and drink due to mouth pain (p < 0.001). In patients with NHL and AL, neutropenia entails an increased risk of mucositis (p < 0.001). Patients who did not initiate early prophylaxis with conservative measures developed mucositis earlier (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

The incidence of mucositis is high, being reported mainly in AL patients, with limitations in quality of life. Grade 4 neutropenia increases mucositis risk. Early prophylaxis with basic oral care may delay mucositis. Further studies are crucial to characterize mucositis epidemiology, physiopathology, and its management.

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Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge all patients and oncological hematologic staff for cooperating with this observational study.

No support or grant was used by the authors.

Conflict of interest

All authors have no conflict of interest. The authors have full control of all primary data and agree to allow the journal to review the data if requested.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Serviço de OncoHematologia, Instituto Português de Oncologia do Porto, Francisco Gentil, Rua Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 4200-072, Porto, Portugal

    José Manuel Martinez, Dulcineia Pereira, Sérgio Chacim, Ângelo Martins, Teresa Azevedo & José Mário Mariz

  2. Núcleo de estudantes de Estatística da Universidade do Minho, 4700-070, Braga, Portugal

    Edgar Mesquita

  3. Departamento de Matemática e Aplicações, Universidade do Minho, 4700-070, Braga, Portugal

    Inês Sousa

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  1. José Manuel Martinez
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  2. Dulcineia Pereira
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  3. Sérgio Chacim
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  4. Edgar Mesquita
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  5. Inês Sousa
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  6. Ângelo Martins
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  7. Teresa Azevedo
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  8. José Mário Mariz
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Correspondence to Sérgio Chacim.

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Martinez, J.M., Pereira, D., Chacim, S. et al. Mucositis care in acute leukemia and non-Hodgkin lymphoma patients undergoing high-dose chemotherapy. Support Care Cancer 22, 2563–2569 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-014-2199-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-014-2199-y

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