Salivary immunoglobulin classes in Nigerians with periodontitis.
OBJECTIVE
To provide information on the usefulness of salivary immunoglobulin classes in the diagnosis of periodontitis.


METHODS
About 5 ml of unstimulated saliva was collected from 25 newly diagnosed subjects with periodontitis and 21 sex/age-matched apparently healthy individuals into plain sample bottles. The samples were collected between 9 am and 11 am at least, 1 hour after eating or washing of mouth and levels of salivary immunoglobulin classes (IgA, IgG, IgE and IgM) were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).


RESULTS
Only the mean level of IgA was significantly raised (p = 0.05) in the saliva of periodontitis patients compared with controls. The mean levels of IgG, IgM and IgE were not significantly elevated in patients with periodontitis, when compared with controls (p > 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
This study showed that elevated salivary levels of IgA could be used as a screening tool for periodontitis.


CONCLUSIONS
Identification of patients at risk and the diagnosis of active phases of periodontal disease remains a challenge due to lack of laboratory test routinely employed in the diagnosis and monitoring of patients with periodontal disease. This study showed that elevated salivary levels of immunoglobulin classes especially, IgA could be used as a screening tool for periodontitis.
Department of Chemical Pathology and Immunology, University of Ibadan, Nigeria.
O A
OA
Olayanju
S K
SK
Rahamon
I O
IO
Joseph
O G
OG
Arinola
D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D055113:Chronic Periodontitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007071:Immunoglobulin A, Secretory / Q000032:analysis; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000032:analysis / Q000145:classification; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria; D012463:Saliva / Q000276:immunology*
D015415:Biomarkers; D007071:Immunoglobulin A, Secretory; D007136:Immunoglobulins