Abstract

PIDHORODECKYJ, Karina et al. Assessment of oral health of cirrhotic patients in liver transplant waiting list. Rev. Estomatol. Herediana [online]. 2018, vol.28, n.4, pp.237-244. ISSN 1019-4355.  http://dx.doi.org/https://doi.org/10.20453/reh.v28i4.3426.

Objectives: To assess the oral health of patients waiting for a liver transplantation. Material and Methods: A total of 103 cirrhotic patients were evaluated for socio-demographic characteristics and medical history of liver cirrhosis (etiology, time of inclusion in the transplant list, MELD - Model for End Liver Disease - value, complications of cirrhosis and routine medications in use). In addition, simplified oral hygiene index (IHO-S), dental caries index (DMFT) and sialometry were performed to verify oral health. After tabulation of the data, descriptive analyzes were performed. Results: The mean age was 54 years, the male gender was the most prevalent and the elementary school was completed by only 44% of the studied population. Hepatitis C and alcoholic cirrhosis were the etiologies that, more frequently, led the patients to indication for liver transplantation. Esophageal varices, ascites and portal hypertension were the complications of cirrhosis most observed. The mean DMFT of the studied population was considered high (23.3 ). Conclusions: The oral health of cirrhotic patients in the waiting list for transplantation is not satisfactory. Longitudinal studies are needed to investigate the relationship between foci of oral infections and the occurrence of infections post-transplant liver.

Keywords : Liver cirrhosis; oral health; dental focal infection; hepatitis; organ transplantation; liver transplantation; immunosuppression.

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