Oral microbial landscape and local defense factors in patients with β-thalassemia major

Abstract

Relevance. Oral microbiocenosis, a multi-component system, has specific characteristics during dental and systemic disease development.Material and methods. The study examined 32 patients with β-thalassemia major and 30 systemically-healthy periodontal patients. The average age of the examined patients was 13-17 years and ≥18 years. We determined the nature of microbiocenosis, which is identified by the spectrum, frequency of occurrence and number of some microorganisms, to establish quantitative and qualitative parameters of normal, commensal and pathogenic oral microorganisms in both groups.Results. Based on the received data, the mixed oral fluid microbiocenosis structure is qualitatively and quantitatively sufficiently stable in practically healthy subjects; microorganisms are represented by four main genera, namely, Lactobacillus spp., Streptococcus spp., Staphylococcus spp. and Enterobacteriaceae. The oral microflora associated with the development of thalassemia undergoes significant pathological changes with the development of systemic and local immune disorders and dysbiosis. Structural analysis of local defense factors and species representatives of microflora in patients with β-thalassemia major showed that salivary flow rate significantly decreases and the commensal and pathogenic microorganism quantitative and qualitative parameters significantly increase, associated with the comorbidity.Conclusion. Salivary flow rate significantly decreases, and quantitative and qualitative parameters of commensal and pathogenic microorganisms increase associated with β-thalassemia major. Such conditions lead to the appearance and development of major dental diseases, including inflammatory periodontal diseases.