DENTAL AND SALIVARY ALTERATIONS IN PATIENTS WITH LIVER-CIRRHOSIS - A STUDY OF 100 CASES

BACKGROUND: The aim of the present study was to investigate the existe nce of differences in dental status and in quantitative and qualitativ e salivary values between 100 patients with liver cirrhosis (LC) and a group of controls. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We analyzed the number of ca rious, missing and filled teeth. Also the unstimulated (UWS) and stimu lated whole saliva flow rates (SWS) were determined, along with the st imulated parotid saliva flow rate (PSS) and the concentration in both UWS and SWS of sodium, potassium, total proteins and immunoglobulin A (IgA). RESULTS: A significantly higher number of carious and missing t eeth was observed in the patients with cirrhosis (2.4 and 14.6, respec tively) than in the control group (1.3 and 10.6, respectively), and a higher stimulated parotid flow rate with LC (0.64 and 0.44, respective ly; p < 0.02) with a decrease in sodium and an increase in potassium, total proteins and IgA in patients with cirrhosis, In the LC group, ca ries were found to affect more teeth in those patients with alcohol-in duced LC than in those with liver disease of other causes (3.9 and 1.7 , respectively; p < 0.05), but in contrast, no differences were found in the saliva flow rate and the concentration in both UWS and SWS of s odium, potassium, total proteins and IgA, Finally, no relationship was observed between the dental status and functional hepatic tests. CONC LUSIONS: CH patients showed a worse dental status, a higher SPS rate a nd some electrolytes and proteins alterations.