Abstract :
Objective: The study was aimed to evaluate the amount of dental caries in children with Acute Lymphoblastic
Leukemia (ALL) were in the maintenance phase of chemotherapy.
Material and Methods: This is a case-control and analytic study conducted on the 27 children (4-12 year old) with
ALL who were in the maintenance phase of chemotherapy in the Ahvaz Shafa Hospital, Iran. The participants of the
control group, matched in terms of age, gender, and cultural status with the case group, were selected among the
healthy children referred to Ahvaz Razi Hospital, Iran. From all participants, the saliva samples were collected to
assess the immunologic factors, including IL-6, IgA, PH, and saliva flow rate. The number of decayed (D), missing
(M) and filled (F) teeth were recorded based on the WHO (DMFT) index and without the use of radiography. Then,
after radiographic assessment, the exposed sample saliva was collected from the subjects to assess the immunologic
factors, including IL-6, IgA, PH and salivary flow rate.
Results: The amount of salivary IgA in children with ALL is less than the control group and was statistically
significant (P 0.05). Saliva flow rate and salivary PH in children with ALL were significantly lower than the
healthy counterparts (P < 0.05).
Conclusion: Children with hematological diseases require special dentistry attention along with antineoplastic
therapies. Hygiene and oral care in these patients compared with children who do not have blood problems must be
performed more carefully.
Keyword :
acute lymphoblastic leukemia, DMFT, IL-6, IgA, salivary pH, salivary flow rate