[Prevention of stomatitis in patients with acute myelogenous leukemia using PVP-iodine (Isodine) gargle].

From November 1987 to October 1990, we investigated the efficacy of povidine iodine gargle solution (Isodine Gargle) for preventing stomatitis in 26 patients (19 males and 7 females; mean age 53.2 years) with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML). The patients were given a concentrated preparation of the gargle solution which they had to dilute 50 times, and were asked to use it 8 times/day for one year. Twenty patients (76.9%) frequently suffered from stomatitis despite the gargling. Therefore, in the second year they were instructed to use the gargle solution at a higher concentration (30-fold dilution). On the third year, they were asked to increase the frequency of gargling to 10 times/day; this resulted in a significant decrease in frequency of the episodes of stomatitis. Severe and painful stomatitis no longer occurred. Gargling with povidine iodine gargle solution was thus considered effective for preventing stomatitis in AML patients.