Salivary immunoglobulins, lysozyme, pH, and microbial counts in children receiving anti-neoplastic therapy.

Salivary immunoglobulins, lysozyme, pH, and microbial counts were determined in 55 children with cancer diseases (37 cured subjects and 18 acute ones) and 103 healthy subjects. 5-10 ml unstimulated whole saliva was collected and pH, immunoglobulins and lysozyme were measured. Chairside dip-slide cultivations were used for microbiologic cultures. Reduced salivary pH and an increased amount of lysozyme were found in the saliva of those children who had been cured of their cancer diseases, but ongoing cancer disease or the treatment provided for it reduced pH and increased the amounts of lysozyme, lactobacillus, Streptococcus mutans and some immunoglobulins. These findings suggest that children with childhood cancer may be more susceptible to dental diseases than healthy ones.