Supersaturated Calcium Phosphate Rinse in Prevention and Treatment of Mucositis in Patients Undergoing Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant.

Abstract

Mucositis is a common morbidity in patients undergoing bone marrow transplant. Various agents have been used to prevent and treat it with variable success. Here, we assessed the efficacy of supersaturated calcium phosphate rinses in prevention and treatment of oral mucositis in patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplant. In this retrospective study, we evaluated the records of 80 patients who underwent hematopoietic stem cell transplant and received supersaturated calcium phosphate rinses for preVention of mucositis from April 2012 to January 2016. The World Health Organization scale was used to grade mucositis. Various parameters assessed included grade of mucositis, duration of mucositis, peak mucositis day, duration of pain, peak pain day, duration of total parenteral nutrition, neutrophil engraftment (defined as absolute neutrophil count ≥ 500/μL), mean dose of fentanyl used, incidences of infections, and type of transplant. Supersaturated calcium phosphate rinses at 4 times/day were started for prevention of mucositis as soon as a patient was admitted. All patients also received betadine mouth gargles for oral hygiene. Our study group included 42 autologous and 38 allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant patients. Grade 1, 2, 3, and 4 mucositis levels were seen in 1, 19, 26, and 31 patients. We found no differences between our study group and historical control regarding parameters studied. Grade of mucositis was statistically significant (P < .01) when autologous transplant for myeloma was compared with autologous transplant for other diagnoses. Supersaturated calcium phosphate rinses were ineffective in the management of mucositis associated with autologous and allogeneic bone marrow transplant.