Background: Despite the wide use of saliva-based measurements in inflammatory, autoimmune and neoplastic conditions, its use in dermatology is still limited.
Aims: The aims of this study were to assess the serum and salivary levels of interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) and C-reactive protein (CRP) in patients with acne vulgaris.
Patients/methods: The study included 84 moderate-to-severe acne vulgaris patients, in addition to 105 healthy control subjects. Serum and salivary levels of CRP and IL-1β were estimated using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique.
Results: Using T-test, the serum and salivary levels of both CRP and IL-1β in the patients were significantly higher than the measured levels in the control subjects (p < 0.001). Using Pearson correlation coefficient, serum and salivary CRP and serum IL-1β levels showed significantly positive correlation with GAGS scores (p < 0.001). The levels of IL-1β in saliva did not show significant correlation with GAGS scores or with serum and salivary CRP.
Conclusions: The current study supports the emerging role of saliva as a valid noninvasive tool for monitoring inflammation and as a reliable and stress-free tool to evaluate cytokines and other inflammatory marker levels in acne vulgaris.
Keywords: CRP; IL-1; acne; inflammation; salivary markers.
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