EFFECTS OF X-RADIATION ON THE SALIVARY COMPOSITIONS

Hussein Haleem Jasim

ABSTRACT

Background: Human saliva performs an important role in preserving healthy teeth and oral tissues. Many factors
have effects on saliva compositions and may interfere with function of saliva. X-radiation consider one of the most
important factors which have important effects on the saliva. Understanding the consequences of radiation still
valuable to many interested investigators. Aim of study: Monitor irradiation influence in radio-treated individuals
who had head and neck malignancies on the most organic and inorganic constitutes of human saliva. Material and
Methods: The study undertaken on individuals (80 male( aged between 30-45 years who referred to Radiation and
Nuclear Medicine Hospital in Baghdad for the period between Dec. 2013 to Oct. 2016, Forty of them are patients
with malignancies in head and neck after 12 weeks radiotherapy. The other forty were healthy individuals. A whole
dosage was between 40 - 44 Gray (5 fractions weekly with specific dosage of 2.0 daily). Assessment of most
salivary organic and inorganic components were carried out for all individuals after radiotherapy. The levels of
salivary total protein, albumin, immunoglobulin A, M and G, amylase, calcium,, phosphate, magnesium in all
subjects were measured utilizing specific tests. Results: The study showed a significant difference in the most
salivary organic constitutes between radio-treated patients group and healthy group, so the study showed a
significant increase of the levels of salivary total protein and albumin in patients with radiotherapy in compared to
healthy individuals. A significant reduction in the levels of salivary IgA and IgM in patients with radiotherapy with
a non-significant increase in the levels of salivary IgG in compared to healthy individuals. The study also showed a
significant decrease in the levels of salivary amylase in patients with radiotherapy in compared to healthy
individuals. Also, there was no significant difference of most inorganic constitutes in saliva between radio-treated
patients group and healthy group, so the levels of salivary Ca, P and Mg in radio-treated individuals in opposite to
healthy individuals. Conclusion: Long term exposure of head and neck region to x-radiation have adverse
influence on most component of saliva.
KEYWORDS:

Keywords: X-radiation, Radiotherapy, Saliva, Salivary composition.