Salivary and serum levels of electrolytes and immunomarkers in edentulous healthy subjects and in those with rheumatoid arthritis.

Chemical analyses of serum and stimulated parotid saliva of 73 edentulous patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and of 36 edentulous healthy controls were performed. The purpose of the present work was to assess the possible correlations between the concentrations of electrolytes and immunomarkers such as lysozyme, IgA, beta 2-microglobulin (beta 2-m) and rheumatoid factor (RF) in serum and saliva. The results of the chemical analyses of the serum showed elevated values for IgA, IgM, lysozyme and beta 2-m. In addition 45 patients were positive for rheumatoid factor. In saliva, the only significant difference between the groups studied was decreased potassium concentration in the RA patients. Nine salivary specimens were RF positive. There was a highly significant correlation between serum beta 2 and salivary IgA, lysozyme, beta 2-m, urea and amylase in the RA patients. In addition, serum lysozyme and RF were related to salivary beta 2-m and urea. However, no such relations could be observed in the controls. These findings indicate that serum immunomarkers have an effect on the salivary constituents in the patients with an altered immunological state. The importance of simultaneous serum analysis is emphasized when salivary levels are to be interpreted.