Salivary electrophoresis in the diagnosis of Sjögren's syndrome.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to investigate the potential use of salivary electrophoresis for the diagnosis of Sjögren's syndrome.


METHODS
Salivary protein profiles of 43 patients and 39 healthy control subjects were compared on three different gel electrophoresis systems: sodium dodecylsulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, anionic polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and immobilized pH gradient gel electrophoresis (isoelectric point, 3.5-5.0).


RESULTS
Most of the patients with Sjögren's syndrome exhibited an electrophoretic profile that was different from that of the healthy control subjects. Among the three gel electrophoresis systems examined, the immobilized pH gradient system appeared to be the most reliable for Sjögren's syndrome. Tests of accuracy revealed that the immobilized pH gradient system exhibits high specificity (97%), sensitivity (95%), positive predictive value (97%), and negative predictive value (95%) in the diagnosis of Sjögren's syndrome.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest that salivary electrophoresis is a potentially useful test for the diagnosis of Sjögren's syndrome.
Al-Hashimi
I
I
Department of Periodontics, Baylor College of Dentistry, TAMUS, Dallas, Tex 75246, USA.
Haghighat
N
N
Fox
P C
PC
D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004396:Coloring Agents; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007525:Isoelectric Focusing; D007526:Isoelectric Point; D008297:Male; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry*; D012471:Salivary Proteins and Peptides / Q000032:analysis*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012859:Sjogren's Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism; D012967:Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate
D004396:Coloring Agents; D012471:Salivary Proteins and Peptides; D012967:Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate