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Despite advances in transplant medicine, prevalence of complications after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) remains high. The impact of pre-HSCT oral health factors on the incidence and severity of complications post-HSCT is poorly understood. The aim of this prospective, observational study was to analyze oral health in patients planned for HSCT. Patients ≥18 years requiring HSCT were included from five sites between 2011–2018. General health, oral findings and patient-reported symptoms were registered in 272 patients. Oral symptoms around disease onset were reported by 43 patients (15.9%) and 153 patients (58.8%) reported oral complications during previous chemotherapy. One third of patients experienced oral symptoms at the oral examination before conditioning regimen and HSCT. In total, 124 (46.1%) patients had dental caries, 63 (29.0%) had ≥one tooth with deep periodontal pockets, 147 (75.0%) had ≥one tooth with bleeding on probing. Apical periodontitis was observed in almost 1/4 and partially impacted teeth in 17 (6.3%) patients. Oral mucosal lesions were observed in 84 patients (30.9%). A total of 45 (17.4%) of 259 patients had at least one acute issue to be managed prior to HSCT. In conclusion, oral symptoms and manifestations of oral disease were prevalent in patients planned for HSCT. The extent of oral and acute dental diseases calls for general oral screening of patients pre-HSCT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To determine whether treatment with tacrolimus plus sirolimus (Tac/Sir) as a prophylaxis for graft‐versus‐host disease worsens severe oral mucositis and delays healing compared to cyclosporine plus methotrexate (CsA/Mtx) following haematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Subjects and Methods: The study comprised 141 patients: 73 randomized to receive Tac/Sir and 68 to receive CsA/Mtx. The oral mucositis assessment scale and toxicity grading according to WHO were used to assess the severity, peak and duration of oral mucositis from the day −3 to day 24 post‐transplant. Results: Eighty‐seven patients developed oral mucositis in the first 24 days post‐transplant. No significant difference in oral mucositis severity between the Tac/Sir and CsA/Mtx groups was observed. The peak oral mucositis score occurred on day 10 in both groups. Although oral mucositis scores had returned to baseline in the CsA/Mtx group on day 24 post‐transplant, no significant difference compared with the Tac/Sir group was found. Conclusions: The introduction of tacrolimus/sirolimus as a graft‐versus‐host disease prophylaxis in haematopoietic stem cell transplantation increased neither the incidence nor severity of oral mucositis compared with cyclosporine/methotrexate. Furthermore, oral mucositis healing was not prolonged and followed the same time pattern as cyclosporine/methotrexate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and objectives: Mucositis is a common complication after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), and is caused by a combination of conditioning‐induced mucosal damage and severe neutropenia. The symptoms include oral and abdominal pain, inability to swallow food and fluids, and severe diarrhoea. Severe mucositis is associated with increased risk of Graft‐versus‐Host disease and infection. Granulocyte transfusions (GCX) could be a treatment option, and our objective was to study its feasibility and potential benefits. Material and methods: This retrospective, single‐centre study included 30 patients receiving GCX because of severe oral mucositis after HSCT during 2005–2017. Clinical outcome, response to GCX, change in opiate administration and adverse events were studied. Results: Twenty‐seven patients received GCX from donors pre‐treated with steroids and G‐CSF, and three from donors pre‐treated with steroids only. Overall response was 83% (24/29 evaluable patients). Fifteen patients reached a complete response. In 14 of 24 responders, a reduction of the administration of opiate pain relief was seen. In eight patients this reduction was ≥50% of the dose. Adverse events (AEs) were reported in 14 cases, and were mild to moderate, and well manageable with symptomatic treatment. No life‐threatening or fatal AEs were recorded. Conclusions: These results indicate that GCX could be a safe and effective treatment for oral mucositis after HSCT with the potential to reduce the necessity of opiate analgesic treatment in this disorder. No severe AEs were seen in this study, but the risk for severe pulmonary AEs after GCX needs to be considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We studied early potential treosulfan-related toxicity in 118 patients treated with treosulfan-based conditioning before allogeneic hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation. Most patients (n = 93) had a hematological malignancy. In 80 cases, a HLA-A, -B and -DR matched unrelated donor was used, while 33 patients had a HLA-identical sibling donor, and five received an HLA-A, -B or -DR allele mismatched, unrelated donor. Levels of AST, ALT, and bilirubin were significantly increased 1 week after HSCT compared to before HSCT. However, only a few patients had transaminase levels >2 to 3 × the upper normal level. All patients became neutropenic; 61% were already so at the time of graft infusion. Nearly all patients engrafted, except for three who died very early. Non-relapse mortality was 7.5% at 100 days and 11.9% at 1 year after HSCT. Veno-occlusive disease of the liver occurred in one patient and hemorrhagic cystitis in two patients. This study shows that early regimen-related toxicity after HSCT was low despite similar marrow toxicities compared to myeloablative regimens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Hematology-oncology patients undergoing chemotherapy and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) recipients are at risk for oral complications which may cause significant morbidity and a potential risk of mortality. This emphasizes the importance of basic oral care prior to, during and following chemotherapy/HSCT. While scientific evidence is available to support some of the clinical practices used to manage the oral complications, expert opinion is needed to shape the current optimal protocols. Methods: This position paper was developed by members of the Oral Care Study Group, Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer/International Society of Oral Oncology (MASCC/ISOO) and the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT) in attempt to provide guidance to the health care providers managing these patient populations. Results: The protocol on basic oral care outlined in this position paper is presented based on the following principles: prevention of infections, pain control, maintaining oral function, the interplay with managing oral complications of cancer treatment and improving quality of life. Conclusion: Using these fundamental elements, we developed a protocol to assist the health care provider and present a practical approach for basic oral care. Research is warranted to provide robust scientific evidence and to enhance this clinical protocol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For prevention of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), treatment of 24 haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) patients with sirolimus and tacrolimus was compared to treatment of matched controls with cyclosporine-based regimens. The patients mainly had non-malignant disorders. Two-thirds of the donors were unrelated, and bone marrow was the most common source of stem cells. Rejection occurred in four patients in the sirolimus group and three in the control group. Donor chimerism for CD3, CD19 and CD33 was similar in the two groups. The cumulative incidence of grade II acute GVHD was 22% in the sirolimus patients and 17% in the controls ( P = 0.78). No patients developed acute GVHD of grades III-IV. The cumulative incidence of chronic GVHD was 25% and 37% in the two groups, respectively ( P = 0.40). Two patients in the sirolimus group developed Epstein-Barr virus lymphoma, and none in the controls. Side effects and toxicity were similar in the two groups. There was no transplant-related mortality at 5 yr in the sirolimus group, as opposed to 8% in the controls ( P = 0.47). Survival at 5 yr was 95% and 92%. Thus, sirolimus combined with tacrolimus is a promising immunosuppressive regimen in HSCT, also for non-malignancies, and its efficacy should be confirmed in prospective clinical trials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]