Oral Manifestations in Renal Transplant Patients

Renal transplantation has evolved as the best treatment option for the patients with end-stage renal disease. Different oral problems arise in these patients, either as a direct consequence of drug-induced immunosuppression, or as a result drug pharmacokinetics. Objective: to determine the prevalence of intra-oral lesions in a group of medically stable renal transplant patients (RTP) and to identify possible risk factors, in comparison with age and sex-matched healthy control subjects (HCS). Methods: The study comprised 58 RTP and 52 HCS. All subjects had thorough oral examination and oral lesions were diagnosed according to the accepted clinically and laboratory criteria. Results: Gingival hyperplasia (GH), erythematous candidosis and hairy leukoplakia were diagnosed in 74.1%, 15.5% and 8.6% of RTP respectively, but were not detected in HCS. All cases of severe GH were in patients medicated by combination of cyclosporin and nifidipin. Conclusions: RTP are more susceptible for certain oral lesions, and routine oral screening and care for RTP is recommended.