Methods: From age cohorts of 3173 menopause-age women, 200 women using 200 not-using HRT were examined. Paraffin-wax stimulated saliva was taken and analyzed according to Meurman et al. (Oral Surg 1997;83:447). Two years later samples from 95 consistent HRT users and 40 non-users were analyzed. Baseline and two-year results were statistically compared within and in-between the groups.
Results: At baseline, mean salivary total protein concentrations were 1.5 ± 0.5mg/ml in HRT, 1.5 ± 0.4mg/ml in non-HRT users. No difference was observed two years later. Baseline IgG values were 20.1 ± 15.8mg/l in HRT, 22.8± 20.3mg/l in non-HRT users; two years later the respective values were 17.1± 13.1mg/l in HRT, 20.4± 22.9mg/l in non-HRT users (n.s.). Baseline IgM values were 1.5± 1.2mg/ml in HRT, 1.9± 1.6mg/l in non-HRT users; two years later, 1.2± 1.1mg/l in HRT, 1.7± 1.6mg/l in non-HRT users (p<0.05 in HRT users). Baseline IgA values were 26.0 ± 15.1mg/l in HRT, 31.6± 16.9mg/ml in non-HRT users; two years later, 24.7±12.8mg/ml in HRT, 32.6± 20.9mg/ml in non-HRT group (n.s.). Salivary albumin baseline concentrations were 306± 183mg/l in HRT, 311± 168mg/l in non-HRT group; two years later, 244± 115mg/l in HRT, 299± 222mg/l in non-HRT group (p<0.05 in HRT users).
Conclusions: The decrease in albumin concentration in HRT users, in particular, confirmed our study hypothesis possibly reflecting an oestrogen-caused improvement of mucosal integrity.