title: Evaluation of salivary immunoglobulin A levels in tobacco smokers and patients with recurrent aphthous ulcers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present study was to analyze the influence of smoking on the salivary immunoglobulin response in smokers and to evaluate the salivary immunoglobulin A in patients with recurrent aphthous ulcers.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included total of 80 subjects, of whom 40 were having history of chronic smoking habit, 20 were clinically diagnosed cases of recurrent aphthous ulcer and 20 were in the control group. Sample of unstimulated saliva was collected, centrifuged and analyzed for the level of salivary immunoglobulin A with turbidimetric immunoassay. For all the tests, a P- value of < 0.05 was considered for statistical significance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean salivary immunoglobulin A level in control group was 0.20 Grams/litre and in smokers the mean salivary immunoglobulin A level was 0.13 Grams / Litre. In patients with recurrent aphthous ulcers mean salivary immunoglobulin A level was 0.31 Grams / Litre. The mean salivary immunoglobulin A levels showed a decreasing trend from controls to smokers. These results were highly significant for values between control groups to smokers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The mean salivary immunoglobulin A levels demonstrated a progressive decrease from controls to smokers. This investigative procedure although non-specific, can be used as a diagnostic marker in smokers and patients with recurrent aphthous ulcers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, RKDF Dental College and Research Center, Bhopal 462 026, Madhya Pradesh, India .
authors.forename: H S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Shilpashree
authors.forename: Shriprasad
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sarapur