Karin Sá Fernandes

Assessment and management of oral health in liver transplant candidates

Liver transplantation has become a standard treatment for end-stage liver disease and the number of recipients has grown rapidly in the last few years. Dental care during pre-transplant workup is important to reduce potential sources of infection in the drug-induced immunosuppression phase of liver transplantation. Objectives The objectives of this study were to document the prevalence of oral abnormalities in patients on a liver transplant waiting list presenting to an urban dental school clinic, discuss the appropriate dental treatment according their systemic conditions and compare their oral manifestations with those of healthy individuals. Material and Methods A pilot study was conducted involving 16 end-stage liver disease individuals (study group- SG) attending the Special Care Dentistry Center of the University of São Paulo and 16 control individuals (control group- CG) with no liver diseases, receiving dental care at the Dental School of the University of São Paulo. These individuals were assessed for their dental status (presence of oral disease or abnormalities), coagulation status, and dental treatment indications. Results The patients from SG exhibited a greater incidence of oral manifestations compared with CG (p=0.0327) and were diagnosed with at least one oral disease or condition that required treatment. Coagulation abnormalities reflecting an increased risk of bleeding were found in 93.75% of the patients. However, no bleeding complications occurred after dental treatment. Conclusions The patients with chronic liver diseases evaluated in this study exhibited a higher incidence of oral manifestations compared with the control group and had at least one oral disease or abnormality which required dental treatment prior to liver transplantation. Careful oral examination and evaluation of the patient, including laboratory tests, will ensure correct oral preparation and control of oral disease prior to liver transplantation.

Clinical and Histological Features of Multifocal Canalicular Adenomas of the Upper Lip

Canalicular adenoma (CA) is an uncommon benign salivary gland tumor that mostly occurs in the upper lip. Despite its benign nature, some patients may present multiple nodules and also microscopic growth that can be multifocal with foci of tumor within the adjacent gland. Microscopically, CA can be mistaken for a polymorphous low-grade adenocarcinoma (PLGA) or basal cell adenoma (BCA), and immunohistochemistry can be helpful in differentiating them. Two cases of canalicular adenoma showing tumor foci within the adjacent gland are described. Both cases occurred in the upper lip of white females aged 72 and 79 years. In addition to the histological multifocal aspect, one of the patients presented bi-lateral nodules. Histological examination of both lesions revealed interconnecting and branching canal-like structures composed by uniform columnar and sometimes cuboidal cells, partially encapsulated. Immunohistochemical analysis showed intense expression of cytokeratins (CK) 7, a weak reaction to CK14 and a negative reaction to vimentin. Upon the diagnosis of CA the lesions were excised. In conclusion, it is important to properly diagnose CA and differentiate its multifocal aspect from a malignant behavior.

Oral manifestations in patients with hypogammaglobulinemia

OBJECTIVE The overall objective of this study was to assess the oral manifestations and their association with immunologic status and health history, of individuals with hypogammaglobulinemia. STUDY DESIGN A case-controlled study of 100 subjects with hypogammaglobulinemia and 93 control individuals was performed. All participants were examined for dental caries, periodontal disease, mucosal lesions/infections, and general oral health problems. Decayed, missing, filled teeth and community periodontal index were recorded. Complete blood count, serum immunoglobulins, and lymphocyte immunophenotyping were measured on the same day of the oral health assessment. RESULTS Individuals with hypogammaglobulinemia showed higher prevalence of enamel hypoplasia and complaints of dry mouth, and lower prevalence of dental caries and periodontal disease. CONCLUSIONS The systemic conditions associated with hypogammaglobulinemia were not associated with enhanced susceptibility to caries, gingivitis, or periodontitis; however, individuals with hypogammaglobulinemia were more likely to report more episodes of recurrent aphthous ulcers compared with control individuals.

Gingival leukemic infiltration as the first manifestation of acute myeloid leukemia: GINGIVAL LEUKEMIC INFILTRATION

Leukemic infiltration of the gingival tissue associated or not with gingival enlargement may be the first manifestation of acute leukemia, despite being rarely reported in the literature. A 10-year-old female patient presented with a 1-month history of an asymptomatic, firm, and pinkish-red generalized gingival overgrowth. There was no bone resorption. Incisional biopsy of the gingival tissue was performed, with histopathological examination revealing a diffuse and hypercellular infiltration of monocytoid cells. The patient was referred to a hematologist and underwent a bone marrow biopsy, which led to a conclusive diagnosis of acute myeloid leukemia. The patient was treated with chemotherapy and we observed regression of gingival enlargement after 4 weeks from the initial therapy.

Kostmann syndrome: oral aspects and 10-year follow-up case report.

Kostmann syndrome (KS) is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by a low neutrophil count and recurrent bacterial infections, including periodontal disease. This report describes the case of a 5-year-old female KS patient treated with regular infusions of granulocyte stimulating factor (granulokine), with primary complaint of gingival bleeding and tooth mobility, and followed up for 10 years. Conventional periodontal treatment and some extractions were performed, after neutrophil function tests using flow cytometry. The invasive procedures were carried out at an outpatient clinic under antibiotic prophylaxis due to a low neutrophil count and an impaired neutrophil function presented. During the 10-year follow-up period, despite episodes of recurrent gingivitis and periodontitis the present report describes the positive outcome of dental treatment of a patient with KS.

Salivary Immunoglobulins in Individuals with Common Variable Immunodeficiency.

Oral manifestations of common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) are rare, have rarely been studied and have given controversial results. There are few data about IgA, IgG, and IgM antibody salivary levels in the literature, and there are few papers about the clinical impact of antibody deficiencies and CVID on the oral health of such patients. The aim of this study was to measure serum and salivary IgA, IgG, and IgM levels in CVID participants and controls, and to associate immunoglobulin levels with caries and periodontal disease. This was a case-control study involving 51 CVID individuals and 50 healthy controls. All participants underwent examination for dental caries and periodontal disease. Blood and whole saliva samples were collected on the same day of the oral examination. Serum IgA, IgM, and IgG levels were measured by turbidimetry and salivary IgA, IgM, and IgG titers were assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Incidences of caries and gingivitis were significantly higher in the CVID group than in the control group (p<0.05). Salivary and blood IgA and IgM titers were significantly reduced in the CVID group, but there was no association of salivary immunoglobulin levels with periodontal disease or with caries incidence (p>0.05 for both). Although CVID was associated with increased susceptibility to caries and gingivitis, it was not associated with low salivary levels of IgA and IgM.

Pathology Quiz Case 3

A MALE PATIENT WHO WAS 34 YEARS OLD, A smoker, and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-seropositive for the past 15 years visited this service complaining of an oral lesion. His medical record disclosed seropositivity for hepatitis C virus (HCV) and a history of oral candidiasis, neurocryptococcosis, and herpes zoster. The patient was using stavudine, lamivudine, tenofovir, and lopinavir. His CD4 cell count was 406 cells/mm, and he had an undetectable HIV viral load. From the clinical perspective, the patient exhibited a painless red spot that was approximately 3 cm in diameter on the right side of the cheek mucosa that had appeared 3 years earlier (Figure 1). An incisional biopsy was performed, followed by histopathological analysis (Figure 2), p53 immunohistochemical analysis (Dako Inc), and human papillomavirus (HPV) in situ hybridization (ISH) (Dako Inc) (Figure 3). The histological sections revealed a fragment of mucosa with hyperkeratosis, acanthosis, and exocytosis that emitted blunt projections toward the lamina propria. Cellular alterations indicating viral infection, such as binucleated cells and koilocytes, were observed across the epithelium. In situ hybridization with a wide-spectrum probe was positive for HPVand for HPV-specific types 6/11, 16/18, and 31/33. Immunohistochemical analyses of p53 exhibited weak expression. The lesion was surgically removed and did not relapse after a 7-year follow-up. Currently, the patient’s CD4 count is 786 cells/mm, and the viral load is undetectable. What is your diagnosis?