Salivary markers in patients with chronic renal failure

• Saliva has been proposed to be a good source for diagnostic purposes.
• Salivary markers in Chronic Renal failure.
• Levels of IgA, IgG, NO and CRP in saliva may be beneficial for monitoring renal disease.
• Hemodialysis patients presented higher levels of IgA and IgG immunoglobulins.

IntroductionChronic renal failure (CRF) is a progressive loss of renal function over a period of months or years. The major function of the kidneys is the removal of metabolic waste products, electrolytes and water. When this function is impaired, systemic changes, oral complications and alterations in salivary composition may occur.ObjectiveThis study aimed to compare the levels of immunological and inflammatory components in the saliva samples from patients that undergo to hemodialysis treatment (HD), without HD and control.DesignThis study evaluated IgA, IgG, C reactive protein (CRP) and nitric oxide (NO) in saliva samples from 119 patients, who were divided into the control group (C), chronic renal failure (CRF) patient group and CRF patients on hemodialysis treatment (HD) group. IgA and IgG levels were analyzed by ELISA. Nitric oxide levels were determined indirectly by the nitrite concentration using Griess reagent; CRP by agglutination tests; and total proteins, by Bradford assay.ResultsThe HD group showed significantly higher levels of IgG, IgA and CRP compared with the control and CRF groups. The CRF group presented the same amounts of IgG, IgA and CRP as the C group but significantly higher levels of NO similar to the HD group.ConclusionRenal disease, particularly hemodialysis treatment during renal disease, seems to alter salivary immunological and inflammatory components. Thus, analyzing the levels of IgA, IgG, NO and CRP in saliva may be beneficial for monitoring renal disease.