Assessment of changes in total proteins level, serum and saliva IgG and IgA levels, serum IgM level, serum and saliva IgA/IgG ratio. The study was conducted on a group of 40 subjects, divided into 2 lots: the first lot consisting of 20 healthy individuals and the second consisting of 20 patients with hepatitis with hepatitis A virus (HAV). The levels of total proteins, serum and saliva IgG and IgA, serum IgM and serum and saliva IgA/IgG ratio have higher values in patients with hepatitis A, in comparison to healthy subjects, without necessarily exceeding the maximum admitted value. The results are significant from a statistical point of view. Due to the sensitivity and specificity of salivary anti-HAV IgM and IgG in patients with acute hepatitis A, compared with healthy subjects, there is a possibility of using salivary immunological tests instead of serum tests for the diagnosis and epidemiological study of HAV infection.

Viral hepatitis represents a major health problem worldwide. Approximately 1.4 million people are infected with hepatitis A virus every year, although given that most of the cases evolve asymptomatically the real number could be even higher. At the same time, hepatitis B virus affects up to 30% of the world population and represents one of the main causes of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Thus, it is very important to understand the physiopathology of viral hepatitis A and B not only for the diagnosis, but also for the therapeutic protocol. The present research aimed to determine if HAV and HBV can alter serum and salivary levels of total protein and of 2 important electrolytes: calcium and potassium.