The safety of dental extractions in patients with hematologic malignancies

Do oral conditions influence the incidence of bloodstream infection after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation? A retrospective study in Japan

PURPOSE

This study aimed to evaluate the incidence of bloodstream infection (BSI) among patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) for teeth indicated for extraction.

METHODS

Patients who underwent HSCT at Toranomon Hospital (Tokyo, Japan) between January 2017 and December 2019 were retrospectively evaluated. The incidence of BSI among patients with teeth indicated for extraction who did not undergo extraction (oral high-risk group) and patients who did not have this risk (oral low-risk group) was compared.

RESULTS

Among the 191 consecutive patients included in this study, 119 patients were classified as undergoing high-risk transplantation. BSI after HSCT was observed in 32 out of 60 (53.3%) patients and 56 out of 131 (42.7%) patients in the oral low-risk and oral high-risk groups, respectively (p = 0.173). Multivariable analyses revealed that the presence of > 3 teeth as intraoral sources of infection and age over 50 years were determinants of BSI originating from the oral cavity after engraftment (odds ratio [OR], 9.11; 95% confidential interval [CI] 2.27-36.61]; p = 0.002; OR, 3.22; CI [1.47-7.08], p = 0.004, respectively).

CONCLUSION

In patients undergoing HSCT, the presence of less than three intraoral sources of infection did not affect the incidence of BSI after HSCT.

Title: Chemotherapy-Induced Oral Complications and Prophylaxis Strategies

Cancer is currently a significant therapeutic challenge and is frequently connected with numerous adverse effects. Despite many improvements in chemotherapy, oral complications are common, leading to poor quality of life and chemotherapeutic dose reduction, which impair survival. This review summarizes the most common dental complications in patients receiving chemotherapy. We mainly focus on oral mucositis as it is a major cause of dose-limiting toxicity. Furthermore, oral candidiasis, viral infections, and xerostomia will be discussed. Conclusions: preventing complications is significantly more important than treating them. All patients beginning systemic anticancer treatment should undergo a thorough oral examination and get appropriate prophylaxis.

Proposed protocol for treatment of severe periodontitis without platelet transfusion in patients with aplastic anemia: a case report

Background

Aplastic anemia is an intractable disease characterized by pancytopenia, susceptibility to infection, and difficulty in achieving hemostasis. In patients with severe periodontal disease and aplastic anemia, spontaneous bleeding from the gingival tissue due to thrombocytopenia and during brushing is common, which may further exacerbate dental issues. Comprehensive periodontal treatment for patients with aplastic anemia is highly challenging and requires collaboration with a hematologist. Here, we discuss the case of a patient with aplastic anemia and severe periodontitis who was successfully treated in collaboration with our hematology department.

Case presentation

A 36-year-old Japanese woman with chief complaints of spontaneous gingival bleeding, pain, and increasing tooth mobility consulted our department. She had developed pancytopenia at age 11 years and was later diagnosed with aplastic anemia, making her susceptible to infection due to leukopenia. The results of the initial periodontal examination led to a diagnosis of severe generalized periodontitis (generalized stage IV grade C periodontitis) caused by leukopenia and poor oral hygiene. We adopted a comprehensive treatment plan, including invasive dental procedures. The patient exhibited no postoperative bleeding due to aplastic anemia-induced thrombocytopenia and experienced a good outcome.

Conclusions

Both physicians and dentists should be aware that immunocompromised patients with aplastic anemia are at risk of developing severe periodontitis with severe alveolar bone resorption if the condition is combined with poor oral hygiene. Even in the presence of aplastic anemia, patients with severe periodontitis can undergo comprehensive dental treatment, including dental extraction and periodontal surgery, if bleeding and susceptibility to infection are controlled. This requires the cooperation of the patient and hematologists and can ultimately contribute to improving the patient’s quality of life.

Dental extraction in the neutropenic patient

PURPOSE

To identify risks of dental extraction in patients with mild, moderate, and severe neutropenia.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The authors undertook an observational study of 116 patients diagnosed with neutropenia and undergoing dental extractions in the Mayo Clinic Division of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) was no higher than 1,500/μL. Predictors were ANC, age, diagnosis, number of teeth removed, type and location of extraction, length of antibiotic use, presence and type of bacteremia at the time of consultation or extraction, reason for consultation, indication for extraction, and use of any granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (GCSF). Primary outcomes were total complications, surgical site infections, delayed healing, and prolonged postoperative pain. Descriptive and bivariate analyses were undertaken, with statistical significance set at a P value less than or equal to .05.

RESULTS

One hundred sixteen patients underwent extraction while neutropenic. The overall complication rate was 8.6% (n=10). All were minor complications requiring simple interventions, if any. Complications were delayed healing, surgical site infection, and prolonged postoperative pain. Delayed healing was not associated with ANC. GCSF and related medications did not appear to affect outcomes in these patients.

CONCLUSION

The results of this preliminary study suggest that extraction of teeth in patients at all stages of neutropenia can be conducted safely. Complications of extraction were few and should be easily controlled. Further studies are required to clarify and stratify risk for future patients.

Dental extraction in the thrombocytopenic patient is safe and complications are easily managed

PURPOSE

To characterize bleeding risk and management of bleeding in thrombocytopenic patients undergoing dental extraction.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This retrospective cohort study included 68 patients with hematologic disease and concomitant thrombocytopenia undergoing dental extractions. The inclusion criterion was a platelet count of 100,000/μL or less at the time of consultation or extraction. Patients using anticoagulation therapy were excluded from the study. Predictors measured were age, gender, platelet count, platelet transfusion before or during surgery, local hemostatic measurements at the time of surgery (absorbable hemostat or antifibrinolytic rinse), number of teeth extracted, diagnosis, and extraction type. The primary outcome was postoperative bleeding requiring intervention. A secondary outcome was surgical site infection. Descriptive and bivariate statistics were computed and the P value was set at .05. No logistic regression was used based on the distribution of outcomes.

RESULTS

Sixty-eight patients underwent extraction of 200 teeth. Five (7.4%) had postoperative bleeding that was always controlled with routine intervention. Mean platelet count was 44,647/μL. Bleeding was more frequent with lower platelet levels (P = .048). Thirty-two patients received platelet transfusion and 26 received local measures. Platelet transfusion and local hemostatic measures had no effect on bleeding outcomes.

CONCLUSION

Surgical and routine extractions are safe procedures in patients with thrombocytopenia, and postoperative bleeding is typically well handled with simple local measures. The benefits of pre- or intraoperative platelet transfusion are unclear in this population. Likewise, the benefit of prophylactic local hemostatic measures is unclear and should be based on the surgeon's discretion and experience.

Thrombocytopenia and platelet transfusions in patients with cancer

Platelet transfusions are a critical component of the supportive care for patients receiving intensive therapy for hematologic malignancies. The platelet count "triggering" prophylactic transfusion has decreased over the years, and studies comparing a prophylactic versus a therapeutic transfusion approach are in progress. The evidence supporting the need for platelet transfusions prior to different invasive procedures is reviewed. Lastly, studies evaluating the use of thrombopoietic stimulating agents to reduce hemorrhage and decrease the need for platelet transfusions are discussed. To date, there is no evidence that this approach is of clinical utility.

Medical resource utilisation and healthcare costs in patients with chronic hepatitis C viral infection and thrombocytopenia

BACKGROUND

Thrombocytopenia is a significant risk for patients with chronic HCV infection and a common side-effect of treatment with pegylated (PEG) interferon (IFN). Thrombocytopenia predisposes patients to bleeding and requirements for platelet transfusions, and may thus place an increased burden on patients and on medical resource utilisation.

SCOPE

In a retrospective analysis of an integrated, longitudinal database of medical and pharmacy claims and laboratory results in a US commercial health (insurance) plan, patients with chronic hepatitis C viral (HCV) infection were identified by reviewing ICD-9-CM HCV-, chronic liver disease-, and cirrhosis-related diagnoses. Medical resource utilisation and laboratory results were evaluated during the year following the HCV diagnosis index date as well as during the baseline year prior to that index date. Medical resource utilisation was determined by comparing outpatient visits, emergency department (ER) visits, and inpatient hospital stays for HCV patients with or without thrombocytopenia.

FINDINGS

HCV patients diagnosed with thrombocytopenia had a greater incidence of bleeding events (27.3 vs. 9.9%), platelet transfusions (8.5 vs. <1%), liver disease-related ambulatory visits (10.4 vs. 4.4; odds ratio [OR] = 2.3; p < 0.001), ER visits (OR = 8.6; p < 0.01), and inpatient hospital stays (OR = 17.7; p < 0.01) during the study period compared with HCV patients without a thrombocytopenia diagnosis. HCV patients with thrombocytopenia had significantly higher overall healthcare costs ($37,924 vs. $12,174; p < 0.001) and liver disease-related costs ($14,569 vs. $4107; p < 0.001) than patients without thrombocytopenia.

LIMITATIONS

Administrative claims data are subject to coding errors; additionally, the patient population may not be completely representative of the general chronic HCV population.

CONCLUSIONS

Diagnosis of thrombocytopenia in patients with HCV is associated with increased incidence of certain comorbidities, complications, and medical interventions, and significantly increased medical resource utilisation.

Thrombocytopenia associated with chronic liver disease

Thrombocytopenia (platelet count <150,000/microL) is a common complication in patients with chronic liver disease (CLD) that has been observed in up to 76% of patients. Moderate thrombocytopenia (platelet count, 50,000/microL-75,000/microL) occurs in approximately 13% of patients with cirrhosis. Multiple factors can contribute to the development of thrombocytopenia, including splenic platelet sequestration, bone marrow suppression by chronic hepatitis C infection, and antiviral treatment with interferon-based therapy. Reductions in the level or activity of the hematopoietic growth factor thrombopoietin (TPO) may also play a role. Thrombocytopenia can impact routine care of patients with CLD, potentially postponing or interfering with diagnostic and therapeutic procedures including liver biopsy, antiviral therapy, and medically indicated or elective surgery. Therapeutic options to safely and effectively raise platelet levels could have a significant effect on care of these patients. Several promising novel agents that stimulate TPO and increase platelet levels, such as the oral platelet growth factor eltrombopag, are currently in development for the prevention and/or treatment of thrombocytopenia. The ability to increase platelet levels could significantly reduce the need for platelet transfusions and facilitate the use of interferon-based antiviral therapy and other medically indicated treatments in patients with liver disease.

Introduction: thrombocytopenia in chronic liver disease -- treatment implications and novel approaches

BACKGROUND

Thrombocytopenia is a common hematologic toxicity among patients with chronic liver disease.

AIM

To give a brief overview of thrombocytopenia and its effects on patients with chronic liver disease.

RESULTS

Thrombocytopenia is generally mild to moderate in severity and can thus be managed relatively easily. Severe thrombocytopenia (platelet count <50,000 /microL), however, may present significant challenges to patient management. Thrombocytopenia can increase the risk of bleeding associated with invasive or surgical procedures. Therefore, while perhaps less widely appreciated than the impact of anemia or neutropenia, effective prevention and management of thrombocytopenia is also critical for patients with liver disease.

CONCLUSIONS

This supplement to Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics provides a comprehensive review of the significance of thrombocytopenia in patients with chronic liver disease, its pathophysiology and relationship to coagulation disorders, impact on clinical care and resource utilization, and novel therapies that may be able to supplant platelet transfusions.

Review article: thrombocytopenia in chronic liver disease

BACKGROUND

Thrombocytopenia is a common finding in advanced liver disease. It is predominantly a result of portal hypertension and platelet sequestration in the enlarged spleen, but other mechanisms may contribute. The liver is the site of thrombopoietin (TPO) synthesis, a hormone that leads to proliferation and differentiation of megakaryocytes and platelet formation. Reduced TPO production further reduces measurable serum platelet counts.

AIM

This paper describes the scope of thrombocytopenia in chronic liver disease and assesses the clinical impact in this patient population.

METHODS

A medline review of the literature was performed pertaining to thrombocytopenia and advanced liver disease. This data is compiled into a review of the impact of low platelets in liver disease.

RESULTS

The incidence of thrombocytopenia, its impact on clinical decision making and the use of platelet transfusions are addressed. Emerging novel therapeutics for thrombocytopenia is also discussed.

CONCLUSIONS

Thrombocytopenia is a common and challenging clinical disorder in patients with chronic liver disease. New therapeutic options are needed to safely increase platelet counts prior to invasive medical procedures as well as to counteract therapies that further exacerbate low platelets, such as interferon. An ideal compound would be orally available and safe, with rapid onset of action.

The evidence base for the efficacy of antibiotic prophylaxis in dental practice

INTRODUCTION

People with various medical conditions and devices are suggested candidates for receiving antibiotic prophylaxis before undergoing dental procedures. This practice is controversial, however, owing to the lack of proof of efficacy. The authors conducted a qualitative, systematic review to determine the level of evidence for this practice and whether antibiotic prophylaxis prevents distant site infections in these patients.

METHODS

The authors selected eight groups of patients with specific medical conditions and devices who often are given antibiotic prophylaxis before undergoing invasive dental procedures. The conditions and devices were cardiac-native heart valve disease, prosthetic heart valves and pacemakers; hip, knee and shoulder prosthetic joints; renal dialysis shunts; cerebrospinal fluid shunts; vascular grafts; immunosuppression secondary to cancer and cancer chemotherapy; systemic lupus erythematosus; and insulin-dependent (type 1) diabetes mellitus. The authors thoroughly searched the literature for the years 1966 through 2005 for references indicating some level of support for this practice and graded each publication on the basis of level of evidence.

RESULTS

The authors found formal recommendations in favor of antibiotic prophylaxis for only three of the eight medical conditions: native heart disease, prosthetic heart valves and prosthetic joints. They found no prospective randomized clinical trials and only one clinical study of antibiotic prophylaxis. Only one systematic review and two case series provided weak, if any, support for antibiotic prophylaxis in patients with cardiac conditions. The authors found little or no evidence to support this practice or to demonstrate that it prevents distant site infections for any of these eight groups of patients.

CONCLUSIONS

No definitive, scientific basis exists for the use of prophylactic antibiotics before dental procedures for these eight groups of patients.

A decision analysis: the dental management of patients prior to hematology cytotoxic therapy or hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

There is a controversy regarding whether dental treatment before chemotherapy protocols, including hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), is helpful to prevent infections during the consequent immunosuppression. The aim of this study was to develop a decision analysis framework that would test the effect of dental treatment prior to chemotherapy on the survival of the patient. A decision tree was created to compare the clinical outcomes of two treatment alternatives for a base-case patient receiving cytotoxics or undergoing HSCT. The variables used to build the model were "systemic infection", "unmet dental needs", "dental needs". The outcomes evaluate to compare the two strategies was "survival". We performed MEDLINE and PubMed searches of English-language literature according to a list of related terms. The decision analysis model selected dental treatment prior to chemotherapy as the preferred strategy for the base case analysis. The results of this study suggest that dental treatment prior to chemotherapy is the preferred treatment strategy. Using our base case data, 1.8 of every 1000 hemato-oncologic patients or HSCT patients will die compared to the non-treatment prior to chemotherapy strategy.

Dental management of pediatric patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplant

This study was conducted to evaluate the outcomes of a dental management program the authors designed for pediatric patients receiving hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) for hematological malignancy. Thirty pediatric patients with hematological malignancies received dental management before HSCT. The outcomes of the dental management and any episode of odontogenic complication were retrospectively evaluated. The pretransplant oral examination showed one or more dental pathologies in 19 children (63.3%), and the remaining 11 patients showed no dental pathologies. Fifteen of the 19 children with dental pathologies received dental treatment, which included restoration, tooth-brushing instruction, scaling, endodontic therapy for permanent teeth, and extraction of primary teeth. No odontogenic infection occurred in any patient during the immunosuppressive period.

Severe Gingival Bleeding in a Myelodysplastic Patient: Management and Outcome

BACKGROUND

The myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are a group of stem cell disorders characterized by a reduction in one or more elements of the peripheral blood. Oral manifestations of the disease and oral complications of medical management may result in significant symptoms and have an impact on the systemic condition of the patient. The removal of the infectious focus, such active teeth infection or severe periodontal disease, remains controversial in these patients, due to the increased risk of bleeding and systemic infection.

METHODS

This paper reports a case of MDS with spontaneous gingival hemorrhage and generalized gingival hyperplasia associated with periodontal disease. This patient underwent several platelet transfusions due to these oral complications. The patient received periodontal therapy, resulting in an improvement of the oral clinical situation and a decrease of gingival hyperplasia.

RESULTS

The patient did not present any episode of gingival hemorrhage after the periodontal treatment.

CONCLUSION

The results of this study suggest that periodontal therapy should be performed in MDS patients presenting thrombocytopenia, gingival hyperplasia, and gingival bleeding, with the intent of preventing further hemorrhagic episodes and possible systemic infection.

Sequelae and complications related to dental extractions in patients with hematologic malignancies and the impact on medical outcome

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this retrospective study was to evaluate sequelae and complications after dental extractions and to analyze their impact on medical treatment in patients with myelodysplastic syndrome, acute and chronic leukemia, and multiple myeloma during a 3-year period.

STUDY DESIGN

The study population included 388 patients with hematologic malignancies. All medical and dental charts were reviewed in a retrospective fashion to identify patients who received dental extractions. Preexisting dental disease and intervention (extraction) were evaluated, and parameters such as days of hospitalization and survival rate were compared with those of the remainder population who did not receive dental extractions.

RESULTS

Of the 388 patients, 69 underwent dental extractions and 9 had sequelae and complications after the intervention. The resulting complication rate of 13% was reported. Although some patients did experience delay of chemotherapy or bone marrow transplant (BMT), or both, no significant difference was found in the number of days in the hospital for BMT and the survival rate for the patients with sequelae and complications (n = 9) and for the remainder population (n = 319) ( >.05).

CONCLUSION

Dental extraction intervention provided in the prechemotherapy and pre-BMT time frame did not have a negative bearing on medical outcome.

Platelet transfusion for patients with cancer: clinical practice guidelines of the American Society of Clinical Oncology

OBJECTIVE

To determine the most effective, evidence-based approach to the use of platelet transfusions in patients with cancer.

OUTCOMES

Outcomes of interest included prevention of morbidity and mortality from hemorrhage, effects on survival, quality of life, toxicity reduction, and cost-effectiveness.

EVIDENCE

A complete MedLine search was performed of the past 20 years of the medical literature. Keywords included platelet transfusion, alloimmunization, hemorrhage, threshold and thrombocytopenia. The search was broadened by articles from the bibliographies of selected articles.

VALUES

Levels of evidence and guideline grades were rated by a standard process. More weight was given to studies that tested a hypothesis directly related to one of the primary outcomes in a randomized design. BENEFITS/HARMS/COST: The possible consequences of different approaches to the use of platelet transfusion were considered in evaluating a preference for one or another technique producing similar outcomes. Cost alone was not a determining factor.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Appendix A summarizes the recommendations concerning the choice of particular platelet preparations, the use of prophylactic platelet transfusions, indications for transfusion in selected clinical situations, and the diagnosis, prevention, and management of refractoriness to platelet transfusion.

VALIDATION

Five outside reviewers, the ASCO Health Services Research Committee, and the ASCO Board reviewed this document.

SPONSOR

American Society of Clinical Oncology

Hematologic abnormalities among HIV-infected patients: associations of significance for dentistry

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence and severity of and the factors associated with peripheral blood cytopenias among HIV-infected patients.

STUDY DESIGN

The investigation involved 516 HIV-infected adults in a longitudinal study of oral disease. Prevalence of hemoglobin, hematocrit, white blood cell, neutrophil, lymphocyte, and platelet values below the lower limit of normal and certain hematologic "critical values" were determined. Demographic, clinical/immunologic/viral stage, medications, and oral lesions were assessed for association with cytopenias by chi(2) and bivariate analyses.

RESULTS

Findings with respect to prevalence were as follows: anemia, 51%; leukopenia, 43. 4%; neutropenia, 27.5%; lymphopenia, 20.7%; thrombocytopenia, 15.5%. Severe cytopenias were detected in fewer than 1% of the patients. Severity of HIV clinical disease and CD4 cell count depletion were significantly associated with all cytopenias. High viral load was associated only with the leukopenias. Black race, antiparasitic therapy, and some oral lesions were associated with certain cytopenias.

CONCLUSIONS

In HIV-infected patients, mild cytopenias are common; however, severe anemia, neutropenia, and thrombocytopenia that may predispose to certain oral manifestations and dental surgical complications are rare.

Mucormycosis of the mandible after dental extractions in a patient with acute myelogenous leukemia

Mucormycosis is a fulminant fungal infection that occurs most often in diabetic and immunocompromised patients including those with hematologic malignancies. In this case, a patient with acute myelogenous leukemia developed mucormycosis in a recent mandibular extraction site. The successful management of this patient demonstrated that early diagnosis, aggressive surgical and medical treatment and resolution of the underlying disease could improve the prognosis for survival. A case is made for the role of smoking as an initiator of mucormycosis, and treatment considerations for controlling periodontal and pulpal disease before chemotherapy are discussed.

Periodontal implications: medically compromised patients

The presence of systemic disease in patients requiring periodontal therapy creates challenges for management. Alteration of treatment plans, with emphasis on physician consultation and preventive periodontal care, is frequently needed to minimize the impact of periodontal disease on the systemic condition. Conversely, detection and treatment of systemic disorders may impact upon the status of the periodontium and the success of periodontal therapy. The goal of holistic patient management is facilitated by a free flow of information between the patients and their medical and dental health care providers.

Postextraction osteomyelitis in a bone marrow transplant recipient

This report describes a case of mandibular osteomyelitis after a dental extraction in a patient who subsequently underwent bone marrow transplantation (BMT) for lymphoblastic lymphoma. Surgical guidelines consistent with National Cancer Institute recommendations were followed for the extraction, which was performed before initiation of the myelosuppressive conditioning regimen. However, moderate tenderness developed at the extraction site beginning 10 days after marrow infusion. On day 26 the patient became febrile and blood culture-positive for Staphylococcus epidermidis. Radiographs exposed on day 28 demonstrated changes consistent with low-grade osteomyelitis, including diffuse loss of lamina dura and an irregular osseous rarefaction extending 1 cm posterior to the extraction site. Although the indwelling Hickman catheter was the presumed source for bacteremia, clinical and radiographic data led to consideration of mandibular osteomyelitis as an alternative cause. Characteristics of this infection in BMT recipients are reviewed. Recommendations for dental extractions and prophylactic antibiotic regimens for catheterized BMT recipients are also discussed. Although mandibular osteomyelitic lesions are not common in profoundly immunosuppressed BMT recipients, prompt recognition and treatment are essential when the disease occurs.