Journal of Dental Research, Vol 60, 10-18, Copyright © 1981 by International & American Associations for Dental Research Online Journals
Relationship between saliva and serum agglutination titers and post-irradiation caries activity in cancer patients
L. R. Brown, P. A. O'Neill, S. Dreizen, S. F. Handler, L. J. Riggan and D. H. Perkins
Agglutination titers in 444 saliva and 481 serum samples from 36 head and
neck cancer patients and 16 control subjects were determined against
formalinized cellular antigens of Streptococcus and Lactobacillus species.
Saliva agglutination titers were significantly higher in cancer patients
before radiotherapy than in control subjects. Changes in specific saliva
agglutination titers to oral isolates following radiotherapy reflected
changes in saliva IgA and post-irradiation caries activity. Patients with
no post-irradiation caries activity had significantly higher saliva
agglutination titers to S. mutans, S. sanguis, and L. fermenti, lower
plaque S. mutans counts, and higher saliva IgA levels than those with
post-irradiation caries activity. Serum agglutination titers were unrelated
to either serum immunoglobulin levels, microbial counts, or caries
activity.
