With the objective to contribute to the problem of etiology of diseases with recurrent oral ulcers the authors made an immunological examination of 10 patients with the diagnosis of stomatitis aphthosa minor which was supplemented by examination of galvanic phenomena in the oral cavity. The authors assessed serum IgA levels, levels of secretory IgA in saliva, levels of complement serum components and the formation of IFN-g and IL-4 in supernatants of lymphocyte tissue cultures. The results were compared with values of a control group of 16 healthy volunteers of corresponding age. In patients with recurrent aphtous ulcer in the acute stage lower serum IgA levels were found and higher levels of secretory IgA in saliva. The authors found also low levels of C3 and C4 components of complement. These complement components were most probably used for the formation of immune complexes, by the classical as well as alternative pathway. The results of IFN-g and IL-4 formation suggest that the greatest amount of Th2 clones was found in patients in the acute stage of the disease. During the remission period a gradual increase of the number of Th1 clones occurs. This is evidence of the fact that recurrent aphtae ulcer are probably genetically conditioned with a congenital type of regulation of the immune reaction, and relapses of acute exacerbations may be caused by various factors which cause an increased number of Th2 at the expense of Th1 clones. Based on our results we assume that it is useful to include among triggering mechanisms of acute exacerbation also galvanic phenomena which may have an negative impact on the development of aphthous lesions as well as on the process of their healing. We recommend therefore t o assess in patients galvanic currents and the strain in the mouth and to eliminate as a possible therapeutic tool their causes.

        Key words: recurrent aphthae ulcer – etiology – immunology – galvanism