Orale Mikroflora und funktionelle Beeinträchtigung bei Patienten nach Radiojodtherapie

radioactive iodine treatment. The objective of this study was to determine the oral microflora of the saliva in patients with thyroid cancer who had undergone radioactive iodine treatment and to investigate, whether thesepatients developed a gustatory dysfunction. 14 patients and 14 matched controls were examined for saliva flow rate (stimulated by chewing on paraffin), taste (sweet, bitter, salt, sour) and plaque index (Silness/Loe). 100 μl aliquots of saliva were taken after stimulation for the determination of Streptococci, Streptococcus mutans, Lactobacilli, Staphylococci, Neisseria, Enterics and Candida on selective media. Sta istical analysis was performed by Wilcoxon-test and Χ 2 -test. As compared to the control group, the patient group showed a statistically significant (p≤0,05) higher number of cases with hyposalivation (stimulated saliva flow rate < 0,7 ml/min). 8 of 14 patients had a flow rate ≤ 0,7 ml/min. 9 of 14 patients demonstrated taste loss, but no evidence for a correlation between hyposalivation and taste loss could be detected. There was a statistically significant difference (p≤0,05) in the plaque index between patients and controls. The patients showed statistically significant higher counts of Streptoccocus mutans (p≤0,05) and of Staphylococci (p<0,05). Although the patient group showed a higher number of cases with hyposalivation and an increase in the plaque accumulation, there was no evidence for higher microbial counts in general. As taste loss did not correlate with hyposalivation, these findings may give indication for direct effects of the radioactive radiation.