ABSTRACT
AIM: To determine the plasma and saliva levels of IL-6 in patients with bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaws (BRONJ) and to investigate whether there is a correlation between more advanced stages of BRONJ and levels of IL-6. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We studied three groups: group 1 consisted of 30 patients with BRONJ due to intravenous bisphosphonates (ivBP), group 2 consisted of 25 patients treated with ivBP but without BRONJ, and group 3 consisted of 15 healthy controls. In each case, we assayed plasma and saliva IL-6 samples using an ELISA test. RESULTS: Significantly, higher IL-6 values were found in both saliva and plasma in group 1 vs groups 2 and 3 (P < 0.01). Group 1 showed no differences in plasma or saliva IL-6 according to patient gender (P > 0.05), type of tumor, BRONJ location, etiology of BRONJ, or disease stage (P > 0.05). We found higher plasma and saliva IL-6 values in the more advances stages of BRONJ, although the differences were not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Plasma and saliva IL-6 values were higher in our patients with BRONJ than in controls and therefore might be a useful tool for monitoring the severity of BRONJ.
Subject(s)
Bisphosphonate-Associated Osteonecrosis of the Jaw/metabolism , Interleukin-6/analysis , Interleukin-6/blood , Saliva/chemistry , Aged , Bisphosphonate-Associated Osteonecrosis of the Jaw/blood , Diphosphonates/administration & dosage , Female , Humans , MaleABSTRACT
Choanal atresia is a congenital absence of communication between the nasal cavity and nasopharynx. Bilateral Choanal Atresia usually present immediately after birth and in the neonatal period. We report an unusual case who presented at the age of twenty two years. This case was successfully managed by a transnasal approach. Choanal atresia should be considered as a rare diagnostic possibility in any patient who presents with total nasal obstruction and persistent mouth breathing.