RESEARCH - Salivary gland involvement in RA and its relationshiop to induced oxidative stress

October 10, 2006

Rheumatology 2003; 42: 1234-1241

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Report

Salivary gland involvement in rheumatoid arthritis and its relationship to

induced oxidative stress

1Oral Biochemistry Laboratory and Salivary Clinic, Department of Oral and

Maxillofacial Surgery, 2Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology and 3B. Shine

Department of Rheumatology, Rambam Medical Center and The Bruce Rappaport

Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel.

Correspondence to: R. M. Nagler, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial

Surgery, Rambau Medical Center, Haifa 31096, Israel. E-mail:

nagler@...

Abstract

Objectives. The objective of the present study was to analyse salivary gland

and free radical involvement in rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods. Thirty-four consenting RA patients (rheumatoid factor-positive) and

18 healthy controls, matched in age and gender, participated in the study.

Plasma and saliva samples were harvested and subjected to compositional

analysis and various free radical-related tests.

Results. The mean salivary flow rate was lower in the RA patients than in

the control group, whereas all plasma and salivary antioxidants were

increased. Mean values of plasma malondialdehyde and ceruloplasmin were

higher in the RA patients.

Conclusions. The effects of RA on salivary gland flow rates and antioxidant

compositional parameters may be of great importance for the further

elucidation of the role of free radicals in RA pathogenesis and for its

general diagnosis and evaluation. The demonstrated correlation between the

altered salivary parameters and the severity of the disease may indicate

that evaluation of the salivary status of RA patients is warranted.

Not an MD

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Mayo Clinic in Rochester

s Hopkins Medicine

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