Early intervention with oral mucosal barrier Protective agents in chronic oral graft-versus-host disease: a retrospective cohort study

Preventing the progression of chronic oral graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) is essential for maintaining oral health, improving quality of life, minimizing functional impairment, reducing systemic complications, and addressing treatment challenges. To evaluate the effectiveness of early intervention with oral mucosal barrier protective agents in preventing the progression of cGVHD and its impact on oral health, quality of life, and treatment response. This retrospective cohort study included 75 participants, with 34 in the non-oral mucosal barrier protective agent group and 41 in the oral mucosal barrier protective agent group. Baseline characteristics, oral mucosal health parameters, quality of life assessments, and curative effect data were collected and compared between the two study groups. The group receiving oral mucosal barrier protectants (n = 41) exhibited significantly lower severity of oral mucositis compared to the group without such protectants (n = 34) (2.12 ± 0.48 vs. 2.56 ± 0.63, P = 0.001) and the incidence of complications was significantly lower in the group receiving oral mucosal barrier protectants (P