HORMONE REPLACEMENT THERAPY AND SOME SALIVARY ANTIMICROBIAL FACTORS IN POSTMENOPAUSAL AND PERIMENOPAUSAL WOMEN

Objectives: The effect of hormone replacement therapy (Cyclabil(R)) on non-immunoglobulin (peroxidase) and immunoglobulin (total IgA, IgC, I gM) antimicrobial factors as well as on total protein and microorganis ms in whole saliva was assayed in 19 postmenopausal and 8 perimenopaus al women. Methods: Paraffin-stimulated whole saliva was collected befo re as well as 3 and 5 months after the onset of the treatment. Time- a nd group-related differences between post- and perimenopausal women we re analyzed. Results: Peroxidase and total protein output per min incr eased significantly (P = 0.004 and 0.001) during the treatment in both groups. No significant time- or group-related differences in the mean concentrations of the respective variables were found. The mean conce ntrations of salivary IgA and IgG showed a significant time-related de crease in both groups (P = 0.012 and 0.010). Salivary IgM concentratio n in perimenopausal women also showed a significant time-related decli ne (P = 0.017) and the difference in changes of salivary IgM between t he two groups was significant (P = 0.033). Total IEA output per min in creased in perimenopausal whereas it decreased in postmenopausal women (interaction; P = 0.021). Hormone treatment had no effect on the amou nt of salivary bacterial floras. Conclusions: The composition of saliv a in post- and perimenopausal women was found to be estrogen-dependent . The second finding was that all women participating in the study rep orted a sense of enhanced oral well-being including relief of oral dry ness. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.