Resumo

MORET, Yuli  e  SAKKAL, Roberto. Uso de los Antioxidantes en el tratamiento de la Leucoplasia Bucal.. Acta odontol. venez [online]. 2005, vol.43, n.2, pp.210-214. ISSN 0001-6365.

The term Leucoplasia refers to a white lesion of the oral mucosa that cannot be characterized as any other illness, nor clinically or histopatologically. It also has been classified as a precancerous lesion because of its potential of transforming into a malignant lesion. Its treatment has traditionally been surgical resection by traditional means or by using techniques as laser CO2 or cryotherapy. Today, newer methods are being used, that focus on nutritional factors and are referred as quimioprevention. It is based in the reversible effects of antioxidants like vitamins A, C, E and beta-carotene (vitamin A precursor) over the distinct steps of carcinogenesis. Recent data suggest that this effects result from changes of the gene expression that control the cell growth and differentiation. The quimio-preventive strategies are designed to suppress, revert or prevent the formation of premalignant lesions, and their progression to carcinoma, but further studies should be made to establish their indications and efficacy. Our goal is to review the role of antioxidants in the treatment of oral leucopasia.

Palavras-chave : leucoplasia; antioxidantes; quimioprevención; vitaminas.