Total antioxidant capacity of saliva in children with HIV.
Several recent reports have indicated high levels of reactive oxygen species, causing oxidative stress, in the pathogenesis of HIV infection. Oxidative stress may lead to enhanced HIV replication in infected cells and may also aggravate the immunodeficiency by reduction of cellular immunity and possibly by increased programmed cell death of lymphocytes. Saliva can constitute a first line of defense against free radical mediated oxidative stress. The use of saliva as a diagnostic fluid has become somewhat of a translational research success story. Technologies are now available enabling saliva to be used to diagnose disease and predict disease progression.


OBJECTIVE
The antioxidant capacity of saliva was investigated in 68 children who were divided into two groups. 34 children who were investigated were diagnosed as having HIV infection and the other group consisted of children who reported to the department and served as healthy controls. Total antioxidant capacity of saliva was evaluated by spectrophotometric assay.


CONCLUSIONS
The results indicated that the total antioxidant capacity (TAC) of saliva decreased in children with HIV infection. TAC was seen to increase with the age of the children.
Padmanabhan
Vivek
V
Department of Pediatric and Preventive Children Dentistry, Vyas Dental College and Hospital, Pali Road, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India. vivek_pdr@rediffmail.com
Rai
Kavita
K
Hegde
Amitha M
AM
Shetty
Sucheta
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000032:analysis*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005609:Free Radicals / Q000032:analysis; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000502:physiology; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000032:analysis; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry*; D013053:Spectrophotometry
D000975:Antioxidants; D005609:Free Radicals; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species