Oral Mucosa Status in Patients with End-Stage Chronic Kidney Disease Undergoing Hemodialysis

There are reports in the literature of interrelationships between chronic kidney disease and periodontitis pathophysiology; similar risk factors play a role in these conditions. Due to chronic kidney disease (CKD), patients on hemodialysis (HD) are more susceptible to developing pathological processes in the gingiva, periodontium, and oral mucosa. This study aimed to evaluate the condition of the oral cavity, with particular attention to lesions of the oral mucosa of patients with end-stage renal disease in Poland, West Pomeranian Voivodship. A case-control study assessed oral health in 200 Polish subjects, including 100 dialysis-station patients who constituted the study group (HD) and 100 healthy patients who formed the control group (K). The physical examination consisted of a general medical and dental history. Evaluation of the oral mucosa included detailed noting of the type of lesions, nature of complaints, and their location. The results showed a higher prevalence of oral lesions highlighting oral mucosal pathology in patients with HD than in group K. Most common symptoms reported by patients with CKD (HD) were xerostomia, taste disorders, and burning mouth. These findings highlight the need to implement comprehensive multispecialty care in patients with chronic systemic diseases.