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 (alpha=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.