Saliva as a Monitoring Fluid for Hormonal Activity in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Abstract

Saliva is a remarkable diagnostic fluid being used to monitor a wide range of local and systemic diseases. Autoimmune diseases represent a major health threat to women worldwide with sexual hormones acting as co-factors for these pathologies and interfering with the normal immune response. The main aim of our study was to evaluate salivary levels of testosterone (T2) and 17-b estradiol (E2) in several autoimmune diseases with a special focus on systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The study included 45 SLE patients, 15 patients with other autoimmune diseases and 10 healthy subjects. Salivary T2 and E2 levels were determined using ELISA assays. Salivary E2 levels in female SLE patients were significantly increased versus vasculitis female patients. Positive correlations have been found between salivary E2 levels and important clinical parameters such as age at inclusion and duration of corticosteroid treatment. E2 salivary level was also identified as an independent predictor of lupus renal nephritis. Regarding T2, salivary levels were found to be significantly lower in SLE female patients compared to respective controls. Furthermore, positive statistical correlations were found between T2 and E2 salivary levels. Collectively, these results promote the use of saliva as a monitoring fluid for hormonal activity in SLE.