Measurement of Malondialdehyde in Patients with Recurrent Aphthous Stomatitis

Abstract

Recurrent Aphthous Stomatitis (RAS) is one of the most common mucosal diseases of the oral cavity. Several RAS trigger factors are suspected of creating an imbalance between oxidant and antioxidant (AO) reactions, thereby accelerating the formation of free radicals. Malondialdehyde (MDA) is widely employed as an indicator of increased lipid peroxidation, a process in which Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) are also involved. The imbalance between ROS and AO will cause oxidative stress (OS). Saliva offers more advantages as a biological liquid biomarker in promoting early diagnosis or prognosis. To determine the level of MDA resulting from OS reaction due to the presence of free radicals in the saliva of RAS patients. This study constitutes pre-experimental, clinical and laboratory-based research incorporating pre-post treatment variation. The research population consists of RAS out-patients attending the Department of Oral Disease, Faculty of Dental Medicine, Universitas Airlangga. Sampling of RAS patients’ saliva was carried out by means of random sampling, while the ELISA method was utilized to measure MDA levels. An increase in the MDA levels of RAS patients was detected compared to those of their recovering counterparts. OS reactions occurred during the ulceration stage experienced by RAS patients. This was demonstrated by an increase in MDA in the saliva of RAS patients, coinciding with ulcerated lesions, compared to that of recovering RAS patients