title: Estimation of salivary amylase and total proteins in leukemia patients and its correlation with clinical feature and radiographic finding.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Leukemia is a fatal disease. The oral manifestations of the leukemias occur early in the course of the disease and these oral features can at times act as a diagnostic indicator. Saliva has been used as a diagnostic aid in a number of systemic diseases.
  
  
  METHODS
  In our study, samples of unstimulated saliva of 30 leukemia patients who were not on chemotherapy were collected and analyzed for salivary amylase and total protein. The oral manifestations and radiographic changes (OPG) were recorded. The correlation between the oral manifestations and the salivary components (salivary amylase and total protein) was assessed for prognostic significance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the present study when the mean values of salivary amylase (1280±754 U/ml) and total protein (647.2±320.7 mg%) were compared with that in control subjects. There was a statistically significant difference for amylase levels (P<.05). On intraoral examination the study subjects showed pallor, gingivitis, gingival enlargement, petechiae, and ecchymosis. On the OPG, the radiographic features included generalized rarefaction of bone (20%), thinning of lamina dura (3.4%), generalized alveolar crest bone resorption (30%), thinning of walls of alveolar crypts (6.7%), besides others, e.g., periapical abscess (10%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The saliva of leukemic patients demonstrated obvious changes in composition. A rise in salivary amylase and total protein levels was evident, with the increase in amylase levels being statistically significant.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Bapuji Dental College and Hospital, Davangere, India.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ashok
authors.forename: G P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Sujatha
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hema
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016301:Alveolar Bone Loss / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D000681:Amylases / Q000032:analysis*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004438:Ecchymosis / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005886:Gingival Hypertrophy / Q000209:etiology; D005891:Gingivitis / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007571:Jaw Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D007938:Leukemia / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism*; D015451:Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism; D015464:Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism; D015470:Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009059:Mouth Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D010482:Periapical Abscess / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism; D011693:Purpura / Q000209:etiology; D011862:Radiography, Panoramic; D012463:Saliva / Q000201:enzymology*; D012471:Salivary Proteins and Peptides / Q000032:analysis*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D012471:Salivary Proteins and Peptides; D000681:Amylases