Dahllöf G, Heimdahl A, Bolme P, Lönnqvist B, Ringdén O
Department of Pedodontics, Huddinge Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
Bone Marrow Transplant. 1988 Jan;3(1):43-51.
Oral health was studied in 49 children below 12 years of age treated with bone marrow transplantation (BMT). Dental treatment prior to BMT was required in 41% of the children. Ulceration of the mucous membranes in the mouth was observed in 37% of the patients during treatment. Those given methotrexate as prophylaxis against graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) exhibited oral ulcerations more frequently (p less than 0.05) than those given cyclosporin. One year after BMT all patients with a clinical chronic GVHD exhibited changes in the oral mucosa. During the first year after BMT 31% of the children developed carious lesions. Children treated with 10 Gy total body irradiation (TBI) had a significantly (p less than 0.05) reduced salivary secretion rate. Dental development was severely affected in children treated with TBI. These disturbances consisted of arrested root development, enamel hypoplasias and microdontia.
