Comparison of Oral Health and Salivary Biomarkers in Children with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis and Healthy Individuals.

Abstract

This study examines the effects of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) on the oral health and detectability of inflammatory biomarkers IL-17, tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and total antioxidant status (TAS) in the saliva of children with JIA. This study included 117 participants (39 patients with JIA and 78 systemically healthy subjects aged 8-12 years). Demographic data, responses to an oral health-related questionnaire, saliva samples, periodontal parameters [plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI) and bleeding on probing (BOP)] and dental recordings [facial profile (FP) and dental occlusion relationship (DOR)] were obtained. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays were used to determine the levels of salivary IL-17, TNF-α and TAS. The Caries Assessment Spectrum and Treatment (CAST) index, FP and DOR distributions did not change between groups (P > 0.05). JIA patients had more temporomandibular joint (TMJ) discomfort than gingivitis patients and healthy subjects (P < 0.05). JIA patients had greater salivary IL-17 levels than healthy subjects (P < 0.05). The healthy group's TAS was higher than that of the JIA and gingivitis groups (P < 0.05). Saliva TNF-α levels were similar between groups (P > 0.05). PI, GI, BOP and TNF-α were positively associated with salivary IL-17 (P < 0.001). Elevated salivary IL-17 and TAS levels could be used as biological markers for discriminating the clinical health status of children with JIA and gingivitis.