Research on serum and saliva concentration of some bivalent cations in patient with suppurations of the oro-maxillo-facial area.

ABSTRACT

UNLABELLED Bivalent cations, such as calcium, magnesium, zinc, copper and manganese play important roles in some physiological and pathological processes on the human body. AIM: To determine possible modifications in serum and saliva concentration of total-Ca2+, total-Mg2+, Zn2+ and Cu2+ in patients with suppurative infections of the oro-maxillo-facial area and eventually their significance for the mentioned pathology. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Study included 47 patients with suppurative infections of the oro-maxillo-facial area, hospitalised during 2006-2008 in the oro-maxillo-facial clinic of "Sfântul Spiridon" Hospital Iasi and 43 healthy control volunteers. RESULTS: Results revealed decreased serum Zn2+ (0.94 +/- 0.21 vs. 1.39 +/- 0.14 mg/L, p < 0.01), decreased serum Zn2+/Cu2+ ratio and increased serum and saliva total-Mg2+ concentration (27.34 +/- 2.61 mg/mL in patients vs. 23.83 +/- 1.61 mg/L in healthy controls- serum, p < 0.05 and 3.79 +/- 0.41 mg/mL in patients vs. 3.21 +/- 0.40 mg/mL in healthy controls - saliva, p < 0.05) in patients with suppurative infections of the oro-maxillo-facial area vs. healthy controls. There were no statistically significant differences in total-Ca2+ concentrations in saliva and serum. Our data are in agreement with medical literature revealing zinc deficiency as a predisposition factor to infection. CONCLUSION: We consider that a significant increase in total-Mg2+ saliva concentration, as well as a decrease in Zn2+/Cu2+ serum ratio could be considered a marker for predisposition to oro-maxillar suppurations.