Immunoglobulin A, G and M levels in saliva in children between 3 - 12 years of age, healthy and with gingivitis.

UNLABELLED The aim of this study was to measure the level of immunoglobulin A, G and M in saliva of 3- to 12-year-old children, both healthy and diagnosed with gingivitis. METHODS A sample of 177 children was selected, of whom 24 were healthy and 153 were diagnosed with gingivitis according to Loe 's index. Samples of saliva were taken and the ELISA test was applied to obtain the immunoglobulin concentrations expressed in microg/ml. A relationship was established between the immunoglobulin levels, the disease (gingival index) and Loe 's bacterial plaque index. IgG levels were higher in healthy children. In the group with gingivitis, 95.8% of the children had incipient gingivitis with a low average index of bacterial plaque (1.33). A direct correlation was found between age and gingival index, while an inverse correlation was found between age and bacterial plaque index. The analysis of the behavior of immunoglobulin according to age showed that age was only significantly correlated to IgA levels. The analysis comparing immunoglobulin levels and clinical parameters for gingivitis showed a direct correlation between gingival index and lgM The gingival index was found that to increase with the age of the subject, even though bacterial plaque decreases. It was also found that age is a better predictor of lgA level than gingival index and bacterial plaque index are; and that gingival index is a better predictor of lgM level than age and bacterial plaque index are.