The relationship between unspecific s-IgA and dental caries: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

Objectives: This systematic review and meta-analysis is focused on evaluating the possible association of s-IgA levels and dental caries.

Data: The inclusion criteria comprised the clinical investigations with case and control groups, a caries diagnostic method, and evaluation of unspecific s-IgA concentration by using tests for both groups in humans, healthy subjects, and with statistical analyses. Quality assessment and data extraction of the included articles were performed. Meta-analysis of pooled data was performed through RevMan software after a sensitivity analysis.

Sources: An electronic and manual search was performed in PubMed, ISI Web of Science, Scopus, Cochrane Library, and Lilacs, with a supplemental hand search of the references of retrieved articles.

Study selection: From 314 abstracts, 14 fulfilled the inclusion criteria. After reading the full articles, one of them was excluded due to the lack of a control group. Seven studies were included in the meta-analysis, and the heterogeneity among the studies (I(2)) was 41%. The pooled meta-analysis demonstrated higher levels of s-IgA in the caries active group (p<0.00001) than in the control group with a mean difference and confidence interval of 0.27 [0.17-0.38].

Conclusions: Based on these findings, there is evidence that supports the presence of increased s-IgA levels in caries-active subjects.

Clinical significance: Dental caries is a multifactorial disease that comprehends intrinsic and extrinsic factors. The risk factors and events related to dental caries are overlooked in the literature. Additionally, it is also important to understand the host response against this disorder. Since the studies are contradictory in this field, we conducted a systematic review followed by meta-analysis to present the immunological host response evidence-based.

Keywords: Dental caries; IgA; Meta-analysis; Saliva; Systematic review.