title: Compensatory levels of salivary IgM anti-Streptococcus mutans antibodies in IgA-deficient patients.
abstract: The protective role of salivary IgA in dental caries has not been completely demonstrated, so, in order to elucidate this point, we evaluated 15 totally and partially IgA-deficient children in terms of the following variables: dental caries indexes, bacterial plaques, number of Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus in the saliva, and titers of IgA, IgG and IgM anti-Streptococcus mutans antibodies in the saliva. Age-matched healthy children served as the control group. IgA-deficient children showed caries scores lower than those of the healthy children; in addition, no statistical difference was found between amount of dental plaque and numbers of the bacteria in saliva. The totally IgA-deficient children presented IgM in levels much higher than the healthy children (p < 0.05). These data could indicate a compensation for the IgA deficiency by IgM.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Dentistry, Sao Paulo University (USP), Brazil.
authors.forename: F R
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Fernandes
authors.forename: A T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Nagao
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Mayer
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zelante
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Carneiro-Sampaio
mesh_terms: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000276:immunology; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017098:IgA Deficiency / Q000276:immunology*; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D012463:Saliva / Q000276:immunology*; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M