Hipocrates (460-370 a.C.) was the one who, for the first time, employed the word “aphtha” (aphtodea)1, coming from the Greek word a p t e i n (ARTEIV), translated as “set fire”2. Until today, the etiology of recurrent aphthous ulcerations (RAU) remains unknown, although hints of its etiologic basis lay on genetic susceptibility, infectious agents and alterations in immune mechanics.

Now, the mouth mucosal protection system is well known, and gathers a large number of substances responsible for its homeostasis3.

The most important humoral mediator for mucosal immunity is secretory IgA4,5, for cooperating with a number of protection mechanisms6, for presenting greater resistance to the proteolytic degradation caused by other immuneglobulins7 and for being especially located in the digestive and respiratory tracts, which are in close contact with the environment8, preventing the uptake of a large amount of antigens and precluding an overload in the immune system9.

The secretory A immunoglobulins present in saliva are excellent indicators of the oral mucosa immune status10-12, nonetheless, clinical-laboratorial comparisons of recurrent aphthous ulcerations and the local protecting mechanisms involved indicate the need for further studies, having in mind the scarce number of papers published and contradictory results.

The present investigation, approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the Federal University of Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri Dentistry School, counted on the participation of twenty patients with prior history of recurrent aphthous ulcerations, seen in the department of Stomatology of the aforementioned institution. The patients were selected regardless of gender, age, race or socio-economical situation, who matched the inclusion criteria, such as no chronic systemic diseases, drug therapy in the week prior to the exam and recent dental treatment. All patients were informed on the procedures before entering the research project, and signed an informed consent form.

In order to obtain a sample of total saliva, the patients were instructed as not to eat or drink (except water) for one hour and mouth hygiene at least two hours before the procedure. Mouth washing with pure water was carried out right before harvesting the samples (between 8 and 10 am). Sampling time was never above 15 minutes.

Total spontaneous saliva that collected on the oral cavity floor was harvested with disposable sterilized Pasteur-type pipettes. After harvesting, 1.5ml of each sample was placed in coded Eppendorf tubes and centrifuged afterwards, in order to reduce bubble and foam, and stored in a refrigerated system (freezer at -20ºC). All patients participated in two times during the research. The first was when they had active aphthous lesion, and the second was when they did not have the lesion (quiescent period).

Of the selected patients, 12 (60%) were females and 8 (40%) were males, within an age range between 07 and 54 years, with a prevalence in the 3rd decade of life (from 21 to 30 years). As related to age, there were no significant differences (p> 0.05) gender wise; in other words, the ages of these two groups of patients were similar.

The lesions varied between 1 and 4mm in diameter and prevailed on the tongue, gingival-labial notch and upper lip, with an average number of 2 (two) lesions per patient.

Predisposing factors reported were: stress, food, gastrointestinal disorders, menstrual cycle, family history and in some it was not possible to notice any association with predisposing factors (no apparent cause).

Results regarding patients’ salivary flow and IgA-s level evaluations at the time points with and without aphtha, regardless of gender, are presented on (Table 1). Notice that there were no statistically significant difference between salivary flow mean values of the patients at the two time points - active lesion and quiescence. As to total protein values at the two time points, gender-related, we noticed that for males the values were statistically higher (Table 2). On the other hand, the total proteins concentration was different considering the two time points (activity and quiescence) in recurrent aphthous ulcerations (Table 3). The levels of salivary IgA-s in the results proved to be significantly increased at the time of activities of this lesion, when compared to results at quiescent periods (Table 3).

The word “aphtha” has been used both by health care professionals as by laymen in order to call any oral lesion characterized by pain similar to those caused by a burn2.

In this investigation, the term recurrent aphthous ulcerations (RAU) was employed in order to avoid confusions with other similar entities.

The diagnosis of RAU is purely clinical, considering its semiologic and evolution characteristics15. The histopathology of these ulcerations does not show specificity, it was used mainly to rule out the non-aphthous lesions7, since it represents the histopathology of a non-specific inflammatory process16.

Recurrent aphthous ulcerations are usually classified as: major, minor and herpetiform, according to their clinical manifestations such as number of lesions, location and severity17. In our series, the most prevalent type was the minor, with onset average time of 5 days.

Spontaneous saliva was preferred over the stimulated flow, since there are already data in the literature about the “flow at rest”, and because it is more reliable to represent the physiology of oral secretions without the interference of external factors.

Despite the small amount, organic substances are molecules responsible for a major part of the saliva’s biologic functions18; they are part of the immune system and may, to some extent, operate independently of the general immune system4.

Secretory immunoglobulin A (IgA -s) is an important parameter to assess the autoimmune status of the mucosa, with the advantage of being measurable by non-invasive methods and without patient discomfort19,20. This is the major class of immunoglobulin found in mucous secretions, and is responsible for a barrier against a number of infectious, environmental allergens and carcinogenic substances19, and it also aids in many inborn protection mechanisms8.

IgA represents the second most abundant immunoglobulin in the human serum and prevails in the saliva in its dimeric form (IgA-s) which better resists proteolysis in environments such as the mouth21.

IgA deficiency is the most common immune humoral defect in humans, and for the most part, causes gastrointestinal and respiratory infections22,23.

If immunity has some regulating effect on the development of recurrent ulcers, what is expected is that IgA-s be the immunoglobulin that provides protection, considering its role in other body parts.

In this study, we aimed at investigating IgA-s concentrations and that of total proteins found in the total spontaneous saliva and check to see if they differ during the times of quiescence and exacerbation of recurrent aphthae.

As a means to check salivary flow variations, which could influence IgA-s and total protein levels, we used total saliva at rest flow check. Our results showed that there were no statistically significant differences between flow measures at the times of active lesion and acquiescence (table 1). Similar results were obtained from patients with RAU when compared to individuals without prior history of such lesions24.

We also did not see statistically significant differences between total protein concentrations in patients with and without aphthae.

Now, total protein concentrations did not vary when the patients were compared with and without lesions (Table 3). Spontaneous and stimulated total saliva flow sample analyses showed that salivary flow was lower and total protein concentrations were higher in women when compared to men13. in the present investigation, when we compared total proteins we found higher concentrations (p < 0.05) at the two time points (With and Without aphthae) in men. On the other hand, salivary flow mean values did not present significant difference between genders (according to Table 2). It is interesting to notice that, although men presented higher concentrations of total proteins when compared to women, we noticed that both for men and women, total protein concentrations were similar for both time points: with and without aphthae. There were no statistically significant differences (p>0.05) between these two time endpoints (Tables 4 and 5).

As to the salivary IgA-s values, there was a statistically significant difference (p<0.05) in the values, noticeably higher during lesion exacerbation when compared to inter-crisis periods (without lesions), as described on Table 1. Moreover, Table 3 corroborates these results, that is, both for males and females; the salivary flow variable in patients with and without aphthae does not differ statistically, while salivary IgA-s levels were statistically higher in patients with aphthae. These data are similar to those found in individuals with aphtha and those without prior history of this lesion25,26.

A study carried out on salivary IgA-s levels in patients with RAU at the times of incipient and acute lesion, regression and complete cure, showed an increase in IgA-s at the acute period, and its reduction in periods of regression and cure, and for the women in the group, very discrepant results were noticed, in some of them salivary IgA-s levels were influenced by menstrual cycle and in others there were no such association27. This leads to this unreliable correlation between IgA-s salivary levels and the menstrual period, even in those with association between the menstrual cycle and recurrent aphthous ulcerations28. Our series had only one woman (of the 12 females in the group) who reported having aphthous ulcerations at the time of menstruation.

Our results suggest a strong correlation between IgA-s and the lesion mechanisms in recurrent aphthous ulcerations, and this may be used as a parameter to assess the mucosal immune status.