Association of oral toxicity and taste changes during hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: a preliminary study.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to characterize the taste changes and taste bud atrophy observed in the period of neutropenia of HCT and to determine the influence of transplantation toxicity on these changes.

Methods: Autologous and allogeneic HCT patients (n = 51) were selected to perform taste acuity tests prior to conditioning (T0) and during neutropenia (T1). The frequency and time duration of oral mucositis, presence of tongue depapillation, and salivary flow rate were also evaluated.