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Levels of salivary IgA in patients with minor recurrent aphthous stomatitis: a matched case–control study

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Abstract

Objectives

Recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) is the most common oral mucosal disease. Despite plenty of studies on aetiopathogenesis of RAS, a definite cause is not clear. The objective of this study was to determine the potential changes of salivary IgA and salivary flow rate in patients affected with minor form of RAS.

Materials and methods

Levels of salivary IgA in 33 patients with acute RAS (minor form) and 33 matched healthy controls were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Resting salivary flow rates were determined too. Both measurements, levels of salivary IgA and resting salivary flow rate, were performed again for each RAS patient in remission phase.

Results

Levels of salivary IgA were significantly increased in acute phase of RAS [median (interquartile range)—124.94 μg/mL (106.22–136.31)] in comparison with the levels in healthy controls [88.92 μg/mL (76.85–93.91; P < 0.001)] and with the levels in remission phase [102.4 μg/mL (84.6–120.16; P = 0.01)]. Even in the disease-free period (remission phase), levels of salivary IgA remained significantly higher in comparison with the levels in healthy controls (P = 0.01). Salivary flow rates, on the other side, were not influenced by the disease state (RAS vs. healthy), phase (acute vs. remission) or even gender (males vs. females).

Conclusion

Marked increase of salivary IgA in acute and remission phases of the minor RAS may suggest a potential role for this immunoglobulin in pathogenesis of the disease.

Clinical relevance

Salivary IgA may be an important aetiological agent in the pathogenesis of RAS, and hence, its immunomodulation may help prevent the disease.

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Acknowledgments

The results presented in this study are part of the first author’s master project which was financially supported by the Faculty of Dentistry, Damascus University.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Oral Medicine Department, Faculty of Dentistry, Damascus University, Damascus, Syria

    Rashad Mohammad, Esam Halboub & Ammar Mashlah

  2. Oral Biology Department, Faculty of Dentistry, Damascus University, Damascus, Syria

    Hussein Abou-Hamed

Authors
  1. Rashad Mohammad
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  2. Esam Halboub
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  3. Ammar Mashlah
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  4. Hussein Abou-Hamed
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Esam Halboub.

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Mohammad, R., Halboub, E., Mashlah, A. et al. Levels of salivary IgA in patients with minor recurrent aphthous stomatitis: a matched case–control study. Clin Oral Invest 17, 975–980 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00784-012-0785-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00784-012-0785-2

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