Abstract
Four patients developed severe oral mucositis after high-dose chemotherapy for a conditioning regimen of peripheral blood stem cell transplantation despite prevention with Povidone-iodine, Amphotericin B, and Allopurinol (PAA) mouthwashes. For such cases, we applied a mouthwash mixture of prostaglandin E1 ointment and sodium alginate. Four patients were instructed to take a mixture of 20 mL t. i. d., and to keep it for more than 30 sec in the mouth. In all cases, oral mucositis showed an improvement within 3 days after mouthwashing and taking it, even before the leukocyte count was recovered. Prostaglandin E1, which has been used for decubitus treatment, could effectively induce the recovery of the oral injury. Sodium alginate could help prostaglandin Ei to stay longer in the mouth and pharynx due to its adhesive nature, and could control inflammation by its own hemostatic effect. We can thus reduce the oral complications associated with radiotherapy and chemotherapy, and thereby improve the quality of life of these patients.
