RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the correlation of severity of oral dryness (OD) with serum and saliva parathyroid hormone (PTH) and calcium levels, and to compare serum and stimulated whole saliva PTH and calcium between menopausal women with/without OD. METHODS: A case-control study was carried out in 76 (38 as case and 38 as control) selected menopausal women with/without OD conducted at the Clinic of Oral Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS). Xerostomia Inventory (XI) score was also used as an index of OD severity. Serum and saliva Ca(+2) concentrations were assessed colorimetrically by Arsenazo reaction. PTH concentration was analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Statistical analysis of Student t test and Spearman correlation was used. RESULTS: The mean saliva calcium and PTH concentrations and outputs, and serum PTH were significantly higher in the case group, compared with control. However, there were no significant differences in serum calcium concentration and stimulated saliva flow rate between groups. XI score correlated significantly with serum PTH (r = 0.387, P = .004), saliva concentration (r = 0.382, P = .002) and output (r = 0.346, P = .007) of PTH; and also with saliva concentration (r = 0.326, P = .013) and output (r = 0.315, P = .018) of calcium; but not with serum calcium and saliva flow rate. CONCLUSION: OD severity correlated positively with serum and stimulated whole saliva PTH, and with saliva calcium levels in this group of menopausal women. Thus, salivary calcium and PTH levels appear associated with OD and menopause.