Salivary enzymes and flow rate: Markers of peptic ulcer.
OBJECTIVE
Peptic ulcers are among the most common and most costly diseases known to human. Its diagnosis in the early stages would have great benefit in treatment of the disease. The aim of this study was to compare alternations of enzymes activity in salivary fluid between patients with peptic ulcer disease and healthy controls.


METHODS
Two groups each composed of 26 subjects (13 male and 13 female) patients with peptic and healthy controls entered. Activities of selective salivary enzymes were assayed by a spectrophotometeric method.


RESULTS
The results showed significant increased activity of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) as well as total salivary protein (TSP) concentration in peptic ulcer patients as compared to control group. However, the enzymatic activity of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) also increased in peptic ulcer patients as compared to healthy control, but not statistically significant.


CONCLUSIONS
Based on the obtained results it was concluded that peptic ulcer may be early diagnosed by detecting activity of salivary enzymes. Therefore the saliva can be suggested as a diagnostic fluid.
Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran.
Moslem
M
Boghori
Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran.
Mahmoudreza
M
Aghamaali
Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran.
Reyhaneh
R
Sariri
Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran.
Fahime
F
Mohamadpour
Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran.
Hosein
H
Ghafouri
Alkaline phosphatase; Aspartate/alanine aminotransferase; Peptic ulcer; Saliva; Total salivary protein