Liliane Lins and Antônio Fernando Pereira Falcao
Introduction: Infections are frequent causes of morbidity and mortality after liver transplantation and a major cause of decomposition in cirrhotic patients awaiting liver transplantation. Cirrhotic patients with poor oral health status may present increased susceptibility to systemic infections in the pre and/or post-operative liver transplantation period.
Objective: To compare oral health status of liver transplantation patients with chronic viral hepatitis carriers.
Methods: This prospective, concurrent study included 66 patients, 45 males (68.2%), observed from January, 2010 to December, 2011. Out of these 66 patients, 18 (27%) were waiting for liver transplantation and 48 (73%) were non-cirrhotic hepatitis patients: 16 (24%) were Hepatitis C Virus carriers, 17 (26%) Hepatitis B Virus carriers and 15 (23%) non-HCV and non-HBV hepatitis. All patients were evaluated at the Stomatology Service from Federal University of Bahia. Oral health status evaluation was performed according to WHO Standards.
Results: Forty-seven patients (71.2%) experienced reduced salivary flow. Patients in the liver transplantation group had more gingivitis (p=0.04), periodontitis (p=0.04) and a slightly higher DMFT (Decayed, Missing and Filled Teeth) mean (19.11) when compared with those with less severe liver disease. However, when comparing the liver transplantation group with non-cirrhotic HCV carriers, there was no statistical significance.
Conclusion: Liver transplantation patients have poorer oral health than patients with less severe hepatitis. Hepatitis C carriers also present severe periodontal disease, requiring stomatological preventive and curative intervention.
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