Compensatory levels of salivary IgM anti-Streptococcus mutans antibodies in IgA-deficient patients.

Abstract

The protective role of salivary IgA in dental caries has not been completely demonstrated, so, in order to elucidate this point, we evaluated 15 totally and partially IgA-deficient children in terms of the following variables: dental caries indexes, bacterial plaques, number of Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus in the saliva, and titers of IgA, IgG and IgM anti-Streptococcus mutans antibodies in the saliva. Age-matched healthy children served as the control group. IgA-deficient children showed caries scores lower than those of the healthy children; in addition, no statistical difference was found between amount of dental plaque and numbers of the bacteria in saliva. The totally IgA-deficient children presented IgM in levels much higher than the healthy children (p < 0.05). These data could indicate a compensation for the IgA deficiency by IgM.