Salivary defence factor concentrations in relation to oral and general parameters in HIV positive patients

The objective of this study was to determine the relationships between sali va protein concentrations, oral mucosal lesions, and systemic parameters in HIV positive patients and controls. Twenty-three control volunteers and 58 HIV-antibody positive patients received a complete oral examination and me dical evaluation. In saliva and serum samples, protein concentrations were recorded by a nephelometric method. The systemic parameters assessed were C D4+ cell count, CDC stages and antiretroviral therapy. Oral mucosal lesion prevalence was higher among subjects with lower CD4+ counts. Considering th e protein profile, correlations were recorded between saliva and serum prot ein concentration for IgA, haptoglobin and alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor. Us ing assays of immune and non-immune saliva defence factors,: we found that the evolution of cellular immune-suppression during HIV infection was corre lated to oral mucosal disease, showing a relationship between local and gen eral systems.