An Assessment Addressing Oral Treatment Protocols for Vietnamese with ALL

Purpose: Conducting a comprehensive paediatric oral health assessment is challenging. Therefore, the need for oral care protocols in immunocompromised patients is essential. The purpose of this study is to determine whether there is an increase in oral soft tissue and dental morbidity due to treatment side effects and resulting decreased saliva quality in Vietnamese children undergoing treatment for Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL)

Material and Methods: The study is being conducted at the Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) Cancer Hospital and HCMC Hematology Hospital. Subjects will be randomly selected from both institutions. Our patient population will be comprised of children, from ages 3 to 18 years, that have been diagnosed with Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia from southern Vietnam. A WHO-based Oral Assessment Form and Simplified Oral Hygiene Index will be used to assess each patient prior to the chemical intervention. The form will include the patient's demographic information and chemotherapeutic protocol as well as objectively assess DMFT. Salivary quality will also be examined using Saliva-Check Buffer Tests (GC Asia). Blood counts will be recorded, and the use of a central line will be noted.

Results: 15 children were examined in a 2-month trial period using an older assessment form based on the modified Eiler's Oral Assessment Guide and a Faces Scale for Pain. Preliminary results revealed generalized poor oral conditions in children receiving chemotherapy in Southern Vietnam, with little or no oral protocols set up.

Conclusion: Unfortunately, the patients seen in these hospitals did not receive worldwide accepted protocols as described by the AAPD. Based on the results from this preliminary trial study, Vietnamese children with ALL require a definitive standard protocol that supports their oral health treatment. The previous study used outdated protocols and therefore the results were deemed inadequate. A new survey has now begun and is approximately 10% completed.