Carulli, G., Rocco, M., Panichi, A., Chios, C.F., Ciurli, E., Mannucci, C., . . . Petrini, M. (2013). Treatment of oral mucositis in hematologic patients undergoing autologous or allogeneic transplantation of peripheral blood stem cells: A prospective, randomized study with a mouthwash containing Camelia Sinensis leaf extract. Hematology Reports, 5, 21–25.
To examine the effectiveness of Camelia Sinensis leaf extract to prevent oral mucositis (OM) in patients undergoes autologous and allogeneic stem cell transplant (SCT)
Patients undergoing SCT randomly were assigned to the experimental group or the control group. Patients in the experimental group received 20 ml of Baxidil Onco® four times a day from day -1 to day +30, in addition to standard prophylactic measures. Baxidil Onco is composed of Camelia Sinensis leaf extract and palmitoyl hydrolyzed wheat protein. Patients in the control group received standard prophylactic measures only. As a standard measure, all patients received mouthwashes with 0.9% saline/sodium bicarbonate solution, 0.12% chlorhexidine, and amphotericin B.
Patients with grade 2 or higher OM additionally received oral care with sponges or soft gauzes. All patients also received 400 mg acyclovir twice daily from day -3 to 16 weeks, 400 mg fluconazole once daily, 500 mg ciprofloxacin once daily, and 960 mcg co-trimoxazole twice daily until day of transplant.
PHASE OF CARE: Active antitumor treatment
OM was found in 81.2% of patients in the control group and 50% of patients in the study group (p = 0.022). Incidence rates for patients undergoing allogeneic transplant were 89% in the control group and 64% in the study group. Moderate to severe mucositis was more prevalent in the control group (56.2%) than in the study group (25%) (p = 0.029). No statistically significant results were found in incidence of severe mucositis (p = 0.16). Total requirement of morphine was 1,300 mg for the study group and 2,880 mg in the control group. However, this result was not statistically examined.
Baxidil Onco may be effective in reducing OM in patients undergoing hematopoietic SCT. A caution may apply for patients with wheat allergy. More patients were undergoing allogeneic transplant in the control group than in the study group. Because incidence of mucositis generally is higher in allogeneic hematopoietic SCT, this presents a potential bias. Further study with larger sample sizes is necessary.
Baxidil Onco may help reduce OM for patients undergoing hematopoietic SCT. However, further study with larger sample sizes is necessary for this to be used as a standard of practice.