B-Cell Activating Factor Levels in Saliva and Serum before and after Treatment of Oral Infections

Background: B-cell activating factor belonging to the TNF family (BAFF) levels may increase in response to oral infections. The aim of the study was to evaluate saliva and serum BAFF levels in patients with oral infection and to monitor them after dental treatments. Materials and methods: Fifteen patients with an oral infection foci including pericoronitis (n = 7) and irreversible pulpitis (n = 8) (F/M:10/5 mean age: 39.8 ± 7.2 years) were selected for the study. All patients were examined pretreatment period immediately and a week after endodontic treatment or oral surgical treatment. Unstimulated saliva and serum samples were collected from patients in these periods. Salivary and serum BAFF levels were measured by ELISA method (Bender, Medsystems, Viena, Austria). Results: Since BAFF levels were similar in patients with irreversible pulpitis and pericoronitis (p > 0.05), two groups were combined in the study. Pretreatment salivary (median: 7.09 ng/ml) and serum BAFF levels (3.28 ng/ml) were significantly decreased after elimination of infection focus by endodontic or oral surgical treatments (0.37 vs 0.0) (p = 0.028 and 0.002). Saliva and serum BAFF levels were not correlated in preand post-treatment periods (p > 0.05). Conclusion: Salivary and serum BAFF levels of patients with oral infections could be decreased by endodontic or oral surgical treatments.