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Oral infections in immunocompromised patients
Author(s) -
Heimdahl Anders,
Nord Carl Erik
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
journal of clinical periodontology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.456
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1600-051X
pISSN - 0303-6979
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2710.1992.tb01223.x
Subject(s) - medicine , intensive care medicine , dermatology , immunology
. The number of immunocompromised patients has increased during recent years, mainly because of more aggressive anti‐cancer treatment and increased survival periods for end‐stage cancer patients. Congenital and acquired immunodeficiencies are also more frequently recognized in dental practice due to increased diagnostic knowledge and increased numbers of HIV‐infected persons. Oral complications and infections are related to the type and severeness of the immunodeficiency. Low amounts of immunoglobulins are known to play a role in many bacterial infections, e.g., upper respiratory tract infections, but have not yet been associated with specific oral conditions. T‐cell defects tend to increase suspectibility towards oral infections with fungi and virus, and are also associated with periodontal disease in HIV‐infected patients. Defects in the phagocytic system increase the risk of periodontal disease in certain patient groups. Severe granulocytopenia as observed, e.g., in leukemic patients increases the risk of septicemia with oral micro‐organisms.