Longitudinal evaluation of oral mucositis in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: a pilot study

Abstract

Aim: To describe the oral mucositis (OM)` incidence and score, and related morbidities in individuals submitted to Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT) throughout the immunosuppression period of time Methods: Subjects with onco / hematological diseases, older than 14 years, submitted to allogeneic HSCT were daily evaluated by the presence and classification of OM, pain level, dysphagia, dysgeusia and xerostomia. The examination started two days before the infusion of hematopoietic stem cells and ended twenty days later. The OM was classified according to the WHO scale and visual analog scale (VAS) was used to measure pain level Results: Twenty-three individuals were recruted, 83% with malignant diseases and 91% had OM. The median of maximum OM degree was 3 and the maximum pain level was 9. There was a median of 11 days of opioid medication use. The subjects who had the highest mean number of days with mouth pain reached the maximum degree of OM and higher number of days and opiod use. Conclusion: There was a high incidence and high scores of OM, loss of body mass and pain in this sample.