Analysis of salivary parameters of mucopolysaccharidosis individuals

Mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS) is a heterogeneous group of rare, chronic, progressive and systemic inherited disorders resulting from deficiency or lack of lysosomal enzymes responsible for the degradation of glycosaminoglycans. Products of nitrosative stress have been previously detected in blood and urine samples of patients with MPS. However, it is unclear whether they are present in the saliva of MPS patients and also if they correlate with salivary parameters such as flow and pH. This study compared the salivary levels of NOX (NO2- + NO3-), nitrite (NO2-), protein (albumin), erythrocyte and leukocyte numbers, as well as the salivary flow rate and pH values of samples obtained from 10 MPS patients and 10 healthy subjects. MPS patients exhibited higher salivary levels of NOX and NO2- when compared to healthy subjects (p < 0.05). Albumin was only detected in six saliva samples of MPS patients and, erythrocytes and leukocytes were detected in 60% and 40% of the MPS patients, respectively. In addition, salivary flow rate and pH averages were statistically lower in this group when compared to healthy samples (p < 0.05). Overall, the data indicates that the salivary levels of NO products can be used in combination with other heath indicators to monitor MPS disorders.