Comparison of saliva interleukin-2 concentration to the condition of gums in children with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia during anti-tumour treatment.

PURPOSE: Subjects undergoing chemotherapy often develop disorders in salivation and changes in salivary composition. Therefore, a tendency to inflammatory states developing within oral mucosa is often observed. The objective of the study was to assess the effect of disturbed immunity on the gum condition in children with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) during anti-tumour treatment and to compare saliva interleukin-2 (IL-2) concentration in relation to the condition of gums oral mucositis-must be removed in children with ALL.

METHODS

The study included 78 children with ALL in followed three examinations and a control group included 78 healthy children. Dental examination of the children with ALL and the control group included the evaluation of gingival condition by gingival index (GI). Children's unstimulated saliva samples were taken, and IL-2 concentration was determined by Human IL-2 EIA.

RESULTS

Mean GI higher than 1 was observed in 3.17 % children with ALL. The results found higher frequency of gingival inflammations in children with ALL on chemotherapy compared with the healthy controls. A comparison of results for a given patient during anti-tumour therapy with regard to salivary IL-2 showed significant differences between examination 2 and examination 3. The results indicated that IL-2 level in saliva was twice higher in a patient during chemotherapy.

CONCLUSIONS

An increase in salivary level of the proinflammatory IL-2 cytokine in ALL children during chemotherapy may cause pathological changes in the condition of the gums. An increase in salivary IL-2 level most probably results from a micro-injury of oral mucosa following administration of cytostatics, which in turn may cause oral mucositis in children with ALL.