Compromised salivary parameters of children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the salivary parameters of individuals with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) and determine if there is a correlation with the simplified oral hygiene index (OHI-S). STUDY DESIGN: Stimulated whole saliva was collected from children, aged 6 to 12 years, with JIA (n = 36) and compared with saliva from a control group (CG) composed of healthy children matched by demographic characteristics (n = 36). Salivary parameters evaluated were amylase and peroxidase activities, calcium, phosphate, and total sialic acid concentration. Data were compared by two-tailed Student's t test, and salivary parameters were evaluated for correlations with OHI-S by Spearman's correlation. RESULTS: The JIA group had a statistically significant reduction in all salivary parameters: α-amylase (20%) (CG, 9.84 ± 4.23; JIA 4.80 ± 3.10) and peroxidase (55%) (CG, 35.05 ± 14.97; JIA, 15.78 ± 6.44) activities, total sialic acid (25%) (CG, 0.024 ± 0.01; JIA, 0.010 ± 0.04), calcium (13%) (CG, 6.26 ± 2.26; JIA, 5.44 ± 2.26) and phosphate (50%) (CG, 10.88 ± 1.49; JIA, 5.45 ± 0.88) concentration compared with the CG (P ≤ .05). There were no significant correlations between the salivary parameters and OHI-S in either group. CONCLUSION: JIA patients showed a reduction of different salivary parameters involved in maintaining oral health.

Clinical oral and salivary parameters of children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate clinical oral and salivary parameters of individuals with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). STUDY DESIGN: Clinical parameters and whole saliva were collected from children aged 6 to 12 years with JIA (n = 36) and from a healthy, matched control group (n = 36). The clinical and salivary parameters evaluated were the dental caries (decayed, missing, or filled teeth), gingival and simplified oral hygiene indices, salivary flow rate, pH, buffer capacity, total protein, and secretory immunoglobulin A concentrations. RESULTS: JIA individuals presented poorer oral hygiene (P ≤ .05) but no difference in the dental caries and gingival indices. JIA patients presented an increase in total protein concentration (86%) and buffer capacity in the range of pH 6.9 to 6.0 (10%) and a reduction in initial pH (6%), buffer capacity in the range of pH ≥ 7.0 (50%), and immunoglobulin A concentration (27%) (P ≤ .05). CONCLUSIONS: JIA is associated with poor oral hygiene and salivary changes, including reductions in immune factors and an altered profile of salivary buffer capacity.