Analysis of saliva samples from oncological patients treated with 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin calcium by scanning electron microscopy with energy dispesive system

M. MAZZEO; J. LINARES; M. LÓPEZ; E. BACHMEIER; F. WIETZ; V. GALVÁN; M.C. VALENTINUZZI; J. A. RIVEROS; A.B. FINKELBERG

JOURNAL OF ORAL PATHOLOGY AND MEDICINE

WILEY-BLACKWELL PUBLISHING, INC

Lugar: Londres; Año: 2013 vol. 42 p. 788 - 792

0904-2512

This work presents a chemical and morphological analysis of saliva samples from patients under treatment with intravenous chemotherapy with 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin calcium. Samples of saliva were extracted during three stages of the treatment: initial stage (previous to chemotherapy), intermediate stage (during chemotherapy) and final stage (twenty one days after finishing the treatment). Chemical contrast images were taken by means of scanning electron microscopy and characteristic X-ray spectra were obtained using an energy dispersive system from all the studied samples. Images corresponding to the intermediate stage showed important differences respect to the initial and final stages. On the other hand, X-ray spectra provided information about the elements present in saliva and their relative abundance allowing us to determine variations in chemical composition. Backscattered electron images and X-ray spectra from the intermediate stage showed clusters of crystals with fluorine content higher than in initial and final stage. This probably indicates the passage of metabolites of 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin calcium from plasma to oral cavity. This finding enhances the hypothesis proposed by other authors about secondary effects of the drugs on the stomatognathic system such as oral mucositis, dysgeusia and xerostomia with or without hyposalivation.