Abstract: Objective: To discuss the correlation among degrees of anxiety and the salivary levels of cortisol, levels of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and cortisol/DHEA ratio in patients with recurrent aphthous ulcer (RAU). Methods: Samples of saliva between 8.00 am and 11.00 am were collected. Anxiety levels of 30 RAU patients and 30 control patients were respectively evaluated by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale for Anxiety (HAD-A). The method of ELISA was used to detect the levels of salivary cortisol and DHEA and to count their ratio. Results: The scores of anxiety and the level of salivary cortisol and cortisol/DHEA ratio of RAU group were significantly higher than those of controls (P<0.05). The salivary DHEA level of RAU was lower than that of controls, but there was no significant difference between two groups. The level of salivary cortisol and cortisol/DHEA ratio in patients with RAU were positively correlated with the anxiety Scores (r=0.685, r=0.641, P<0.01). The level of salivary DHEA was negatively correlated with the anxiety scores (r=-0.494, P<0.01). Conclusion: The anxiety involved in the pathogenesis of RAU. It is necessary to use some proper phychological supporting treatment for RAU patients except traditional treatment.

Key words: Recurrent aphthous uler, Anxiety, Salivary cortisol, Salivary dehydroepiandrosterone