title: Sialochemistry for diagnosis of Sjögren's syndrome in xerostomic patients.
abstract: The flow rate and composition of whole unstimulated saliva were measured in fifteen healthy controls and in forty-eight xerostomic patients, fourteen suffering from xerostomia per se, twenty-two from xerostomia with keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS), and twelve from xerostomia, KCS, and rheumatoid arthritis. A significant lower salivary flow rate was found in all the xerostomic patients. Sodium, potassium, and IgA concentrations were significantly elevated in the KCS and in the RA + KCS group in comparison with the patients who had xerostomia per se and with the healthy controls. Sialochemistry is thus recommended for the diagnosis of Sjögren's syndrome in xerostomic patients.
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000032:analysis; D011188:Potassium / Q000032:analysis; D012463:Saliva / Q000032:analysis*; D012859:Sjogren's Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism; D012964:Sodium / Q000032:analysis; D014987:Xerostomia / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D012964:Sodium; D011188:Potassium