Title: Correlation between salivary cortisol and anxiety in recurrent aphthous stomatitis

Background  and aim : Recurrent aphthous stomatitis  is one of  the most common inflammatory diseases of the oral mucosa with multifactorial etiology  . Psychological factors  is  one of possible factors cause to recurrent aphthous ulcers and salivary cortisol level also influenced by anxiety, this study aimed  to compare salivary cortisol  levels in patients with recurrent aphthous ulcers( during active disease and after healing )with healthy persons. Material and Methods: In this case-control study unstimulated salivary samples from 30 patient with RAS above 10 years (in active ulcerative stage and 2 days after healing) and 30 healthy subjects (control group) who age and gender were matched was collected and transferred to the laboratory for salivary cortisol levels measurement )Eliza method). Hamilton Anxiety Scale questionnaire was also completed to assess the level of anxiety for participants. Data were analyzed using Spss 20 and  sample  T-Test Result: Salivary cortisol levels in  patients with RAS  in active ulcerative  and  healing periods   no significant different(P=0.171). Salivary cortisol levels in healthy subjects and  patients with RAS in acute phase   no significant different (p=0.272). Also cortisol levels  in  patients  with recurrent aphthous stomatitis  in healing period and control group  no  significant different .(P = 0.97) The mean anxiety level of people with RAS 17.6 ± 3.2 and healthy people  15.9± 2.7 no significant different (P˃0.05)   Conclusion:  Considering to the result ,salivary cortisol levels in  ulcerative period  and after healing in patients with RAS and healthy subjects no different . Also, anxiety and cortisol  levels no related to aphthea occurrence .