Assessing the Presence of Viral DNA from Human Herpes Virus 1 in Patients with Oral Mocositis

Abstract

Mucositis is an acute inflammation of the oral mucosa in response to the cytotoxic action of chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy regimens. It is a debilitating side effect and a dose-limiting complication that impact on local control and survival rate as well as on the quality of life of cancer patients. This study aimed to correlate the degree of oral mucositis to the presence of Human Herpes Virus 1 DNA in patients with squamous cell carcinoma treated through conventional radiotherapy. The sample was made up of 33 patients with malignant tumors of the head and neck submitted to radiotherapy treatment through either electron teleradiotherapy or cobalt therapy, with fractioned dose ranging from 180 to 200cGy on the right and left cervical-facial regions and supraclavicular fossa. Swabs were collected in order to detect Human Herpes Virus 1 DNA using polymerase chain reaction assays. Patients were examined beginning with the second week of therapy and were followed up on a weekly basis until the end of treatment and classified for oral mucositis criteria according to the World Health Organization. Among the 33 patients evaluated, 2 (6.1%) showed no clinical evidence of mucositis; 8 (24.2%) had Grade I mucositis; 11 (33.3%) had Grade II; 11 (33.3%) had Grade III; and one (3.0%) had Grade IV. Human Herpes Virus 1 and Epstein Barr virus were identified in the sample analyzed. However, these findings demonstrated no statistically significant correlation to the exacerbation of radio-induced oral mucositis.