Amylase and peroxidase activities and sialic acid concentration in saliva of adolescents with cerebral palsy.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the flow rate, amylase and peroxidase activities, and total protein and sialic acid concentrations in saliva of adolescents with cerebral palsy.


METHODS
The saliva of 24 adolescents with cerebral palsy was compared with that of 18 adolescents without cerebral palsy, all aged around 12 years, 2 months. The whole saliva was collected under slight suction and frozen at -80 degrees C. Flow rate, amylase and peroxidase activities, and total protein and sialic acid concentrations were analyzed by standard methods.


RESULTS
The flow rate was low in the cerebral palsy group. The cerebral palsy group demonstrated low amylase and peroxidase activities. Boys and girls from the cerebral palsy group demonstrated higher total protein concentration than the boys and girls from the control group. Sialic acid, free and total, concentration was higher in the cerebral palsy group than in the control group.


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest that adolescents with cerebral palsy present alterations in the salivary parameters studied that can increase the risk of oral disease in this population.
Rodrigues Santos
Maria Teresa Botti
MT
Division of Dentistry for Persons with Disabilities, School of Dentistry, University Cruzeiro do Sul, São Paulo, Brazil. drsantosmt@yahoo.com.br
Siqueira
Walter Luiz
WL
Nicolau
José
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000681:Amylases / Q000032:analysis*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000201:enzymology*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019158:N-Acetylneuraminic Acid / Q000032:analysis; D009195:Peroxidase / Q000032:analysis*; D012463:Saliva / Q000201:enzymology*; D012472:Salivation / Q000502:physiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014099:Toothbrushing
D009195:Peroxidase; D000681:Amylases; D019158:N-Acetylneuraminic Acid