Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is widely used as a potentially curative treatment for patients with various hematological malignancies, bone marrow failure syndromes, and congenital immune deficiencies. The prevalence of oral complications in both autologous and allogeneic HSCT recipients remains high, despite advances in transplant medicine and in supportive care. Frequently encountered oral complications include mucositis, infections, oral dryness, taste changes, and graft versus host disease in allogeneic HSCT. Oral complications are associated with substantial morbidity and in some cases with increased mortality and may significantly affect quality of life, even many years after HSCT. Inflammatory processes are key in the pathobiology of most oral complications in HSCT recipients. This review article will discuss frequently encountered oral complications associated with HSCT focusing on the inflammatory pathways and inflammatory mediators involved in their pathogenesis.

Background and purposeTo minimize the risk of hematogenous periprosthetic joint infection (HPJI), international and Dutch guidelines recommended antibiotic prophylaxis prior to dental procedures. Unclear definitions and contradictory recommendations in these guidelines have led to unnecessary antibiotic prescriptions. To formulate new guidelines, a joint committee of the Dutch Orthopaedic and Dental Societies conducted a systematic literature review to answer the following question: can antibiotic prophylaxis be recommended for patients (with joint prostheses) undergoing dental procedures in order to prevent dental HPJI?MethodsThe Medline, Embase, and Cochrane databases were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs), reviews, and observational studies up to July 2015. Studies were included if they involved patients with joint implants undergoing dental procedures, and either considered HPJI as an outcome measure or described a correlation between HPJI and prophylactic antibiotics. A guideline was formulated using the GRADE method and AGREE II guidelines.Results9 studies were included in this systematic review. All were rated “very low quality of evidence”. Additional literature was therefore consulted to address clinical questions that provide further insight into pathophysiology and risk factors. The 9 studies did not provide evidence that use of antibiotic prophylaxis reduces the incidence of dental HPJI, and the additional literature supported the conclusion that antibiotic prophylaxis should be discouraged in dental procedures.InterpretationProphylactic antibiotics in order to prevent dental HPJI should not be prescribed to patients with a normal or an impaired immune system function. Patients are recommended to maintain good oral hygiene and visit the dentist regularly.

ObjectiveOral healthcare professionals are frequently confronted with patients using drugs on a daily basis. These drugs can cause taste disorders as adverse effect. The literature that discusses drug‐induced taste disorders is fragmented. This article aims to support oral healthcare professionals in their decision making whether a taste disorder can be due to use of drugs by providing a comprehensive overview of drugs with taste disorders as an adverse effect.Materials and methodsThe national drug information database for Dutch pharmacists, based on scientific drug information, guidelines, and summaries of product characteristics, was analyzed for drug‐induced taste disorders. “MedDRA classification” and “Anatomic Therapeutical Chemical codes” were used to categorize the results.ResultsOf the 1,645 drugs registered in the database, 282 (17%) were documented with “dysgeusia” and 61 (3.7%) with “hypogeusia.” Drug‐induced taste disorders are reported in all drug categories, but predominantly in “antineoplastic and immunomodulating agents,” “antiinfectives for systemic use,” and “nervous system.” In ~45%, “dry mouth” coincided as adverse effect with taste disorders.ConclusionHealthcare professionals are frequently confronted with drugs reported to cause taste disorders. This article provides an overview of these drugs to support clinicians in their awareness, diagnosis, and treatment of drug‐induced taste disorders.