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Ethics code: IR.GUMS.REC.1394.304

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Salivary Biomarkers and Oral Health Status in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients with and without Xerostomia
Maryam Basirat *1 , Zahra Yousefi2 , Irandokht Shenavar Masooleh3 , Monireh Aghajany-Nasab4 , Ehsan Kazem Nejad leili5
1- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Medicine, Faculty of Dentistry, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran , mbasirat2010@gmail.com
2- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, School of Dentistry, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences
3- Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Dental Sciences Research Center, Razi Hospital, Guilan University of Medical Sciences
4- Clinical Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Guilan University of Medical Sciences
5- Departmechnt of Biostatics, sool of Health, Road Trauma Research center, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran
Abstract:   (64 Views)

Abstract
Introduction: Xerostomia is a common oral complaint in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and may adversely affect oral health and salivary composition. This study aimed to compare oral health indices and salivary biomarkers among RA patients with and without xerostomia, using patients with osteoarthritis as a non-autoimmune control group.
Materials and Methods: This analytical cross-sectional study was conducted at the Razi Hospital, Rasht, Iran, between 2015 and 2016. Fifty-one participants were enrolled (17 RA with xerostomia, 17 RA without xerostomia, and 17 osteoarthritis controls). Xerostomia was defined as a FOX questionnaire score ≥ 3 and unstimulated salivary flow rate ≤ 0.1 mL/min. Oral examinations included the decayed, missing, and filled teeth (DMFT) index, simplified oral hygiene index (OHI-S), and periodontal pocket depth (PD). Salivary calcium, phosphorus, uric acid, alpha-amylase, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were analyzed. Data were statistically analyzed (α = 0.05).
Results: RA patients with xerostomia showed poorer oral health status, reflected by higher DMFT, OHI-S, and PD values, and reduced salivary flow rate compared with the other groups (P < 0.001).Salivary calcium levels were higher in the xerostomia group (P = 0.010), while LDH activity differed significantly only between RA patients with xerostomia and osteoarthritis controls (P < 0.001). No significant differences were observed for phosphorus, uric acid, ALP, or alpha-amylase.
Conclusions: Xerostomia in RA is associated with compromised oral health and altered salivary composition. Changes in salivary calcium and LDH should be interpreted as exploratory findings and warrant confirmation in larger longitudinal studies




 
Keywords: Rheumatoid Arthritis, Xerostomia, Saliva, Oral Health, Periodontal Disease
     
Type of Study: Original article | Subject: So on
Received: 2025/12/15 | Accepted: 2026/02/10
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