Inflammatory markers in saliva as indicators of gingival inflammation in cerebral palsy children with and without cervical motor control

Aim. To evaluate the relation among gingival inflammation, salivary osmolality, levels of IL-1 beta, IL-6, IL-8, TNF-alpha, and s-IgA concentrations in children with spastic CP with or without cervical motor control in a cross-sectional study. Design. Unstimulated whole saliva and the gingival index were collected in 37 and 34 CP children with and without cervical motor control, respectively. The data were dichotomized as follows: (=0) absence of gingival inflammation and (>= 0.1) presence of gingival inflammation. Results. The group without cervical control presented statistically higher mean values of salivary osmolality, s-IgA, and cytokines. In addition, statistically positive correlation between the gingival index and salivary cytokines was observed in the group with cervical control. Salivary osmolality, salivary cytokines, and s-IgA from both groups presented a significant positive correlation. Significant differences (P = 0.00336) in the values of salivary osmolality were observed between the CP individuals with (93.9 +/- 32.7) and without gingival inflammation (74.4 +/- 16.6). ROC analysis was performed, and values of salivary osmolality >80 indicated a sensitivity of 0.54 and a specificity of 0.79. Conclusions. Children without cervical motor control presented a more pronounced oral inflammatory status that was characterized by higher levels of cytokines.