Evaluation of Salivary Cortisol and IgA levels in Stress Related Oro-facial Conditions
Author(s): Dhifaf Kamil Kadhim* and Jamal NA Al-Juboori
Abstract
Background: some people had special problems causing them to have a stress and university dental students perceived a stress with certain examinations. So, there was a need for measuring the stress level in those participants by using useful biomarkers. Several studies considered cortisol as a biomarker of stress with other biomarkers that were used in conjunction. By clinical diagnosis and the appearance of the lesions, the stress related orofacial conditions were determined. Aim of the study: The aim of the study is to estimate and compare salivary (cortisol and IgA) levels in stress related orofacial conditions and normal people. Also, the differences between these markers in relation to these conditions. This could give an understanding to the role of stress in developing Oro-facial conditions. Subjects, materials, and methods: The participants included in this study were undergraduate students in Baghdad and Babylon University who gave saliva samples at the period of academic examinations and some of other stressed people. ELISA kits (cortisol and IgA) were used to measure the variables in the saliva samples. The clinical diagnosis was depended in this study. Results: The general group of stress showed a high significant level of salivary cortisol in comparison with the control group. According to patients’ subgroups, there was a highly significant difference in the salivary cortisol level recorded with (traumatic cheek biting, and RAS) subgroups, a significant difference with tongue indentation subgroup, while a non-significant difference with both of (TMJDs and herpes labialis) subgroups in comparison with controls. Considering salivary IgA, there was a non-significant difference of salivary IgA level in the general patient’s group considering control group. According to the subgroups, there was a highly significant difference between stressed patients with herpes labialis and controls, whereas there was a non-significant difference with the other comparisons. Conclusion: This study shows that salivary cortisol can be used as stress biomarker to assess stress level in persons with orofacial conditions more than salivary IgA.