title: [Macroscopic evaluation of the oral mucosa and analysis of salivary pH in patients with anorexia nervosa].
abstract: The aim of the study was to evaluate the status of the oral mucosa, to assess the prevalence of Candida in the oral cavity and to analyze the pH values of total saliva in patients with anorexia nervosa (AN) in comparison to the general population.
  
  
  METHODS
  A controlled clinical trial was designed for two, age-matched, female groups: patients with AN (Group A, n=31) and healthy women (Group 0, n = 40). Total saliva was collected at rest and after stimulation by chewing paraffin wax. Salivary pH was measured and macroscopic evaluation of the oral mucosa was performed with a qualitative and quantitative mycological analysis. The smear layer was collected from three different areas in the oral cavity. Selected Candida broths were used for incubation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Changes in the macroscopic structure of the oral mucosa due to multifactorial etiologies were observed. The prevalence of Candida in patients with AN was comparable to that in the general population. Salivary pH values were significantly lower in the AN patients than in the control group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The incidence of pathological changes in the oral mucosa is associated with the loss of the salivary protective barrier. This is shown by the significant reduction in the pH values of stimulated and non-stimulated saliva of the AN patients. In these patients, the monitoring of salivary parameters such as salivary flow rate and pH is indicated, and a regular dental checkup, together with soft tissue evaluation, is advised.
authors.forename: Elzbieta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Paszyńska
authors.forename: Agnieszka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Słopień
authors.forename: Zuzanna S
authors.initials: ZS
authors.lastname: Slebioda
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dyszkiewicz-Konwińska
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Weglarz
authors.forename: Andrzej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rajewski
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D012016:Reference Values; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000382:microbiology*