Research on serum and saliva concentration of some bivalent cations in patient with suppurations of the oro-maxillo-facial area
Luca, E.; Crivoi, F.; Galeş, C.; Popescu, E.; Ciubotariu, D.; Nechifor, M.
Revista Medico-Chirurgicala a Societatii de Medici Si Naturalisti Din Iasi 113(3): 899-903
2009
ISSN/ISBN: 0048-7848 PMID: 20191852 Document Number: 631307
Bivalent cations, such as calcium, magnesium, zinc, copper and manganese play important roles in some physiological and pathological processes on the human body. To determine possible modifications in serum and saliva concentration of total-Ca2+, total-Mg2+, Zn2+ and Cu2+ in patients with suppurative infections of the oro-maxillo-facial area and eventually their significance for the mentioned pathology. Study included 47 patients with suppurative infections of the oro-maxillo-facial area, hospitalised during 2006-2008 in the oro-maxillo-facial clinic of "Sfântul Spiridon" Hospital Iaşi and 43 healthy control volunteers. Results revealed decreased serum Zn2+ (0.94 +/- 0.21 vs. 1.39 +/- 0.14 mg/L, p < 0.01), decreased serum Zn2+/Cu2+ ratio and increased serum and saliva total-Mg2+ concentration (27.34 +/- 2.61 mg/mL in patients vs. 23.83 +/- 1.61 mg/L in healthy controls- serum, p < 0.05 and 3.79 +/- 0.41 mg/mL in patients vs. 3.21 +/- 0.40 mg/mL in healthy controls - saliva, p < 0.05) in patients with suppurative infections of the oro-maxillo-facial area vs. healthy controls. There were no statistically significant differences in total-Ca2+ concentrations in saliva and serum. Our data are in agreement with medical literature revealing zinc deficiency as a predisposition factor to infection. We consider that a significant increase in total-Mg2+ saliva concentration, as well as a decrease in Zn2+/Cu2+ serum ratio could be considered a marker for predisposition to oro-maxillar suppurations.