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Anxiety and Salivary Level of Alpha-Amylase in Patients with Geographic Tongue: A Case Control Study
Abstract
Background:
Geographic tongue is a common benign condition involving the tongue with an unknown etiology.
Objective:
This study aimed to measure the salivary level of alpha-amylase as well as the level of anxiety of patients with geographic tongue.
Methods:
This case-control study was performed on 180 subjects including 89 patients with geographic tongue and 91 controls. The subjects were requested to fill out the Spielberger’s State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-S, STAI-T). Unstimulated saliva samples were collected by the spitting method to assess the salivary level of alpha-amylase. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 23, t-test and Pearson’s test (α=0.05).
Results:
The mean salivary level of alpha-amylase and the mean scores of state and trait anxiety in geographic tongue patients were higher than those of healthy controls. But these differences did not reach statistical significance (P>0.05).
Conclusion:
Anxiety may be an influential factor in the occurrence of geographic tongue. Salivary level of alpha-amylase cannot serve as a specific biomarker for assessment of geographic tongue.
