Evaluation of salivary immunoglobulin A level in thalassemic patients with periodontitis in comparison with thalassemic patients with healthy periodontium

BACKGROUND and AIM: This study was conducted to evaluate salivary immunoglobulin A (IgA) level in thalassemic patients with periodontitis in comparison to thalassemic patients with healthy periodontium. METHODS: Seventy-five patients were included in this study and were divided into three groups, group A: 25 major thalassemic patients with mild to moderate periodontitis, group B: 25 thalassemic patients with healthy periodontium, and group C: 25 systemically healthy people with normal periodontium. To measure salivary IgA levels, stimulated saliva was collected and analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The data were analyzed by t-test, ANOVA, and chi-square. RESULTS: Salivary IgA was significantly different in major thalassemia patients with periodontitis (69 μm/ml) in comparison to major thalassemia patients with healthy periodontium (81 μm/ml) (P < 0.05). The highest level of salivary IgA was observed in the systemically healthy people with normal periodontium (88 μm/ml). CONCLUSION: The levels of salivary IgA were decreased in major thalassemia patients with periodontitis and healthy periodontium in comparison to systemically healthy people with normal periodontium