EVAlUATION OF HUMAN CYTOMEGALOVIRUS AS A POTENTIAL ETIOLOGIC AGENT IN RECURRENT APHTHOUS ULCERATION OF THE ORAL CAVITY

Abstract

Recurrent aphthous ulcer (RAU) is the most common oral mucosal disease characterized by recurrent single or multiple painful ulceration of the oral mucosa .

Despite the prevalence of RAU, the etiology of the disease remains obscure. Given the common and recurrent nature of RAU, an association with viral infection has long been postulated, in particular the human herpes VtfUS.

Preliminary observations on RAU patients revealed that the levels of anti HCMV IgG/Ab were significantly elevated in the remission stage suggesting that reactivation of l-ICMV may be involved in the disease process.

The present study was conducted on 21 RAU patients and ten healthy subjects acting as contra Is.

Estimation of the serum 1-ICMV lgG/Ab level was done for the patients during active and remission stages using ELISA PCR was used to examine the presence of 1-ICMV DNA in the preulcerative oral aphthous lesions. The results of antibody estimation and PCR detection of the patients were compared with those obtained from controls . '

The serum anti HCMV lgG I Ab concentration in RAU patients at remission stage were found to be significat1tly higher than control subject and RAU patients in active stage.