Evaluation of salivary opiorphin levels in patients with atypical facial pain

 Atypical facial pain (AFP) is a chronic disease associated with local pain in the craniofacial area. A wide range of treatments including drug therapy, psychiatric methods and open surgery are used for its treatment. Opiorphin is a pentapeptide that can block pain and also has proven antidepressant effects. The aim of this study was conducted to investigate the opiorphin concentration in AFP patients and to compare it with healthy people.

 This study was performed on 30 AFP patients and 40 healthy individuals. Unstimulated saliva was collected from both groups by spitting method. HAD-A (Hamilton Anxiety Test) and HAD-D (Hamilton Depression Test) questionnaires were completed for all patients and controls. Psychological interview with the patients and psychological analysis were performed to determine anxiety and depression scores. Data analysis was done using SPSS (ver.24) statistical software

 The subjects of two groups were homogeneous in terms of age and sex. The mean salivary opiorphin concentrations in the case and control groups were 1.8050±0.2923 and 1.8032±0.3682 ng/ml, respectively. According to the results of t-Test, no significant difference was observed in the mean opiorphin concentration between the AFP group and control group (P=1.000). According to the Pearson's test, no significant relationship was found between the opiorphin levels and the age, sex, and anxiety or depression score in the patient and control groups (P>0.05). Also, there was no remarkable correlation between initial VAS, duration of pain and previous treatments with opiorphin levels in the AFP patients (P>0.05). No significant correlation was found between the opiorphin concentration and menopausal period in the case and control women (P>0.05).

 The results showed that most AFP patients had some degree of anxiety and depression. However, salivary opiorphin concentration did not significantly increase in the AFP patients.