Hormone replacement therapy and some salivary antimicrobial factors in post- and perimenopausal women.
OBJECTIVE
The effect of hormone replacement therapy (Cyclabil) on non-immunoglobulin (peroxidase) and immunoglobulin (total IgA, IgG, IgM) antimicrobial factors as well as on total protein and microorganisms in whole saliva was assayed in 19 postmenopausal and 8 perimenopausal women.


METHODS
Paraffin-stimulated whole saliva was collected before as well as 3 and 5 months after the onset of the treatment. Time- and group-related differences between post- and perimenopausal women were analyzed.


RESULTS
Peroxidase and total protein output per min increased significantly (P = 0.004 and 0.001) during the treatment in both groups. No significant time- or group-related differences in the mean concentrations of the respective variables were found. The mean concentrations of salivary IgA and IgG showed a significant time-related decrease in both groups (P = 0.012 and 0.010). Salivary IgM concentration in perimenopausal women also showed a significant time-related decline (P = 0.017) and the difference in changes of salivary IgM between the two groups was significant (P = 0.033). Total IgA output per min increased in perimenopausal whereas it decreased in postmenopausal women (interaction; P = 0.021). Hormone treatment had no effect on the amount of salivary bacterial floras.


CONCLUSIONS
The composition of saliva in post- and perimenopausal women was found to be estrogen-dependent. The second finding was that all women participating in the study reported a sense of enhanced oral well-being including relief of oral dryness.
Leimola-Virtanen
R
R
Department of Oral Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Turku, Finland.
Helenius
H
H
Laine
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001419:Bacteria / Q000254:growth & development; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007071:Immunoglobulin A, Secretory / Q000032:analysis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000032:analysis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D008593:Menopause / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009195:Peroxidase / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D012463:Saliva / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology; D012471:Salivary Proteins and Peptides / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors
D007071:Immunoglobulin A, Secretory; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D012471:Salivary Proteins and Peptides; D009195:Peroxidase