Cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone salivary levels, stress and anxiety in patients with recurrent aphthous stomatitis ; Níveis salivares de cortisol e desidroepiandrosterona, estresse e ansiedade em pacientes com estomatite aftosa recorrente

Objective: In the present study we investigated salivary concentrations of the hormones cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), stress and anxiety levels in patients with recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS).Methods: The sample consisted of 60 individuals of both sexes, aged between 18 and 50 years: 30 patients with RAS and 30 controls. Stress and anxiety were assessed using the Lipp’s Adult Stress Symptom Inventory and the Beck’s Anxiety Inventory, respectively. The saliva samples were collected in the morning and in the afternoon on the same day. In the RAS group, the samples were collected in the presence of active lesions and after remission. The salivary levels of cortisol and DHEA were determined by radioimmunoassay.Results: RAS patients exhibited significantly higher anxiety scores (P=0.001) and prevalence of stress (P=0.004). There was no significant difference in DHEA and cortisol levels between RAS and control groups. Cortisol levels (P=0.008 and P=0.001) and the cortisol/DHEA ratio (P=0.054 and P=0.007) were significantly increased in the RAS patients with active lesions comparing with the remission phase (P=0.007).Conclusion: The present study demonstrates an association of stress and anxiety with RAS. However cortisol and DHEA did not differ between patients with RAS and controls. ; Objetivo: Neste estudo foram investigadas as concentrações salivares dos hormônios cortisol e desidroepiandrosterona (DHEA), níveis de estresse e ansiedade de pacientes com ulceração aftosa recorrente (UAR).Métodos: A amostra consistiu de 60 indivíduos de ambos os sexos, com idades entre 18 e 50 anos: 30 pacientes com UAR e 30 pacientes-controle. O estresse e a ansiedade foram avaliados por meio do Inventário de Sintomas de Stress de Lipp e do Inventário de Ansiedade de Beck, respectivamente. Amostras de saliva foram coletadas pela manhã e a tarde no mesmo dia. No grupo-UAR as amostras foram coletadas na presença de lesões ativas e após sua remissão. Os níveis salivares de cortisol e DHEA foram analisados por ...