Changes in saliva of epileptic patients.

Unstimulated whole saliva samples of 27 indoor epileptic patients were studied on their protein composition using biochemical and immunochemical methods. A number of salivary proteins appeared at least partially to be hydrolyzed. In a number of saliva samples the concentration of carbohydrate-containing isoenzymes of amylase was reduced. In addition, the concentration of the 20 kD glycoprotein EP-GP was reduced by 60%. Sialic acid, the terminal sugar of the glycoproteins and mucins, was released for about 50% and in three salivas even nearly completely. Moreover, sialic acid- and fucose-containing epitopes could hardly be detected by monoclonal antibodies to human salivary mucins. As a consequence of this hydrolytic breakdown the saliva mediated aggregation of two S. sanguis strains had been reduced. In contrast, the aggregation of S. oralis had been maintained.