Salivary antimicrobial proteins in patients with Crohn's disease

The aim was to study the level of salivary proteins with antimicrobial properties in persons with Crohn's disease. Twenty-five patients were recruited, 13 with ongoing symptoms (acute group) and 12 free of clinical signs of the disease at the time of the investigation (nonacute group). A control group matched to the nonacute group was also included in the study. Unstimulated and stimulated whole saliva samples were collected, and the secretion rates estimated. Unstimulated saliva was analyzed for concentrations of total protein, peroxidase, thiocyanate, slgA, lactoferrin, lysozyme, and for specific bacteria aggregation ability. Numbers of mutans streptococci and lactobacilli in saliva were determined, and dental caries status was examined. No differences were found among the groups regarding salivary flow rate, total protein, or any of the antimicrobial proteins. However, three patients with Crohn's disease had no detectable slgA in saliva compared with none in the control group. The lactobacillus count and the number of decayed tooth surfaces were higher in the nonacute group than in the control group.