[The oral examination and dental treatment before cord blood transplantation in aged patients and the development of oral mucositis after transplantation]

Aim: In this study, we performed intraoral examinations and dental treatment before umbilical cord blood transplantation for elderly people and investigated the development of oral mucositis after transplantation. The results of this study are reported herein.

Methods: Study period: January 2009 to December 2016.

Subjects: 106 patients who requested oral examinations at our department prior to cord blood transplantation.

Methods: We examined the following information from charts and nursing records: (1) blood disease; (2) history of dental treatment and the details thereof; (3) the relationship between the average number of days from the initial dental visit until transplantation and the history of dental treatment and the details thereof; (4) the relationship between the occurrence of oral mucositis after transplantation and the details of treatment; and (5) the dates of the occurrence and disappearance of oral mucositis after transplantation, along with a comparison of the levels of granulocytes and platelets between the occurrence date and the disappearance date.

Results: For patients who had undergone "periodontal therapy" and "tooth extraction," the average number of days from the initial dental visit to transplantation was longer than in patients not undergoing "periodontal therapy" and "tooth extraction." The levels of granulocytes and platelets at the onset of oral mucositis after transplant were lower than those at the disappearance of oral mucositis. In particular, the level of granulocytes was significantly decreased.

Conclusion: For transplant patients, a rapid intraoral examination is necessary, and it is important to start and end dental treatment at an early stage.