Title: Correlation between salivary cortisol and anxiety in recurrent aphthous stomatitis

Recurrent aphthous stomatitis is one of the most common inflammatory diseases of the oral mucosa with multifactorial etiology . Psychological factors is one of possible factors cause to recurrent aphthous ulcers and salivary cortisol level also influenced by anxiety, this study aimed to compare salivary cortisol levels in patients with recurrent aphthous ulcers( during active disease and after healing )with healthy persons.

In this case-control study unstimulated salivary samples from 30 patient with RAS above 10 years (in active ulcerative stage and 2 days after healing) and 30 healthy subjects (control group) who age and gender were matched was collected and transferred to the laboratory for salivary cortisol levels measurement )Eliza method). Hamilton Anxiety Scale questionnaire was also completed to assess the level of anxiety for participants. Data were analyzed using Spss 20 and sample T-Test

Salivary cortisol levels in patients with RAS in active ulcerative and healing periods no significant different(P=0.171). Salivary cortisol levels in healthy subjects and patients with RAS in acute phase no significant different (p=0.272). Also cortisol levels in patients with recurrent aphthous stomatitis in healing period and control group no significant different .(P = 0.97) The mean anxiety level of people with RAS 17.6 ± 3.2 and healthy people 15.9± 2.7 no significant different (P˃0.05)

Considering to the result ,salivary cortisol levels in ulcerative period and after healing in patients with RAS and healthy subjects no different . Also, anxiety and cortisol levels no related to aphthea occurrence .