Salivary gland function in HIV-infected patients treated with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART)

ObjectiveThis study was undertaken to determine if HAART alters salivary oral host defense in HIV(+) men.Study designWhole, parotid, and submandibular/sublingual saliva was collected from 39 healthy men and 147 HIV(+) patients with mild to moderate immune dysfunction (69 treated with HAART [HAART(+)]; 78 not treated [HAART(−)]). Salivary flow rates, anticandidal activities, electrolytes, and antimicrobial/antifungal proteins were determined.ResultsWhile CD4+ cell counts were not different between the HIV(+) groups, the median viral load for HAART(−) was 15 times greater than HAART(+). For both HAART groups, salivary yeast carriage rates and concentration were comparable and both showed similar reductions in salivary flow rates. Salivary anticandidal activities were not altered. Saliva composition of both HIV(+) groups was different from control, but only uric acid in parotid saliva of HAART(+) differed from HAART(−).ConclusionsHAART does not adversely affect inherent salivary oral host defense in HIV(+) patients with mild to moderate immune dysfunction.