Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 25, 2026
Author Spotlight: A Focus on Standardized Salivary Gland Ultrasound Protocol in Connective Tissue Disease Research
Published on: October 13, 2023
Compromised salivary parameters of children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis
Bruna de Oliveira Perestrelo1, Alice Rodrigues Feres de Melo2, Giselle Rodrigues de Sant'Anna1
1Department of Pediatric Dentistry at the University Cruzeiro do Sul, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Insights
Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) significantly reduces key salivary parameters like amylase and phosphate in children. No correlation was found between these salivary changes and oral hygiene in JIA patients.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Rheumatology
- Oral Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is a chronic autoimmune disease affecting children.
- Salivary dysfunction can impact oral health and may be associated with systemic conditions.
- Understanding salivary changes in JIA is crucial for comprehensive patient care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate salivary parameters in children diagnosed with JIA.
- To determine the correlation between salivary function and oral hygiene in JIA patients.
- To compare salivary profiles of JIA children with a healthy control group.
Main Methods:
- Collected stimulated whole saliva from 36 children with JIA and 36 healthy controls (aged 6-12).
- Assessed salivary amylase and peroxidase activities, calcium, phosphate, and total sialic acid concentrations.
- Utilized two-tailed Student's t test for group comparisons and Spearman's correlation for OHI-S analysis.
Main Results:
- JIA patients exhibited significant reductions in salivary amylase (20%), peroxidase (55%), total sialic acid (25%), calcium (13%), and phosphate (50%) compared to controls.
- No statistically significant correlations were observed between any salivary parameters and the simplified oral hygiene index (OHI-S) in either group.
- These findings highlight widespread salivary alterations in children with JIA.
Conclusions:
- Children with JIA demonstrate diminished levels of critical salivary components essential for oral health maintenance.
- The study underscores the impact of JIA on salivary function, independent of oral hygiene status.
- Further research may explore therapeutic interventions to mitigate salivary dysfunction in JIA.
Objective:
To evaluate the salivary parameters of individuals with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) and determine if there is a correlation with the simplified oral hygiene index (OHI-S).
Study Design:
Stimulated whole saliva was collected from children, aged 6 to 12 years, with JIA (n = 36) and compared with saliva from a control group (CG) composed of healthy children matched by demographic characteristics (n = 36). Salivary parameters evaluated were amylase and peroxidase activities, calcium, phosphate, and total sialic acid concentration. Data were compared by two-tailed Student's t test, and salivary parameters were evaluated for correlations with OHI-S by Spearman's correlation.
Results:
The JIA group had a statistically significant reduction in all salivary parameters: α-amylase (20%) (CG, 9.84 ± 4.23; JIA 4.80 ± 3.10) and peroxidase (55%) (CG, 35.05 ± 14.97; JIA, 15.78 ± 6.44) activities, total sialic acid (25%) (CG, 0.024 ± 0.01; JIA, 0.010 ± 0.04), calcium (13%) (CG, 6.26 ± 2.26; JIA, 5.44 ± 2.26) and phosphate (50%) (CG, 10.88 ± 1.49; JIA, 5.45 ± 0.88) concentration compared with the CG (P ≤ .05). There were no significant correlations between the salivary parameters and OHI-S in either group.
Conclusion:
JIA patients showed a reduction of different salivary parameters involved in maintaining oral health.
