Salivary dysfunction associated with systemic diseases: systematic review and clinical management recommendations
Received 8 November 2006; accepted 8 November 2006.
Objectives
The objective of this study was to identify systemic diseases associated with hyposalivation and xerostomia and develop evidence-based management recommendations for hyposalivation/xerostomia.
Study design
Literature searches covered the English language medical literature from 1966 to 2005. An evidence-based review process was applied to management studies published from 2002 to 2005.
Results
Several systemic diseases were identified. From studies published 2002 to 2005, 15 were identified as high-quality studies and were used to support management recommendations: pilocarpine and cevimeline are recommended for treating hyposalivation and xerostomia in primary and secondary Sjögren’s syndrome (SS). IFN-α lozenges may enhance saliva flow in primary SS patients. Anti-TNF-α agents, such as infliximab or etanercept, are not recommended to treat hyposalivation in SS. Dehydroepiandrosterone is not recommended to relieve hyposalivation or xerostomia in primary SS. There was not enough evidence to support any recommendations for the use of local stimulants, lubricants, and protectants for hyposalivation/xerostomia. However, professional judgment and patient preferences may support the use of a specific product for an individual patient.
Conclusions
These evidence-based management recommendations should guide the clinician’s management decisions for patients with salivary dysfunction related to systemic disease. Future treatment strategies may include new formulations of existing drugs, e.g., local application of pilocarpine. Recent discoveries on gene expression and a better understanding of the etiopathogenesis of SS may open new treatment options in the future.
aAssociate Professor, Department of Oral Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, Göteborg University, Göteborg, Sweden.
bAssociate Professor, Department of Oral Medicine, School of Dental Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh, PA.
cDirector of Clinical Research, Department of Oral Medicine, Carolinas Medical Center, Charlotte, NC.
dProfessor, Departments of Oralfacial Sciences and Pathology, University of California, San Francisco, CA.
eProfessor, Broegelmann Research Laboratory, The Grade Institute, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.
fChairman, Department of Oral Medicine, Carolinas Medical Center, Charlotte, NC.
gProfessor, Department of Oral Medicine, University of Glasgow, Scotland.
hDirector, Department of Oral Medicine, Carolinas Medical Center, Charlotte, NC.
iResearcher, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, University of Turin, Torino, Italy.
jLecturer, Department of Oral Medicine, School of Dentistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA.
kVisiting Professor, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Dentistry, Showa University, Tokyo, Japan.
lAssociate Professor, Division of Diagnostic Sciences, University of Southern California, School of Dentistry, Los Angeles, CA.
mProfessor, Division of Oral Medicine, School of Dentistry/Dept. Of Otolaryngology, School of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN.
nProfessor, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Copenhagen University Hospital, Glostrup, Denmark.
Reprint requests: Inger von Bültzingslöwen, DDS, PhD, Department of Oral Medicine, Institution of Odontology, Sahlgrenska Academy, Box 450, SE-405 30 Göteborg, Sweden
ABSTRACT