title: Oral and ocular sicca symptoms and findings are prevalent in systemic lupus erythematosus.
abstract: The aims of this study were 1) to examine the frequency of oral and ocular sicca symptoms in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE); 2) to compare saliva and tear volume, salivary proteins, and features of the oral microflora and mucosa to a matched healthy control group; and 3) to relate the findings to disease parameters. Median disease duration was 5.5 (0.5-28) years, disease activity 5 (2-20), damage score 1 (0-7), and Schirmer I test 7.5 (0-30 mm). Seventeen and twelve patients complained of oral and ocular dryness, respectively. Unstimulated whole saliva and proline-rich proteins in submandibular saliva were significantly reduced in SLE. Oral microbial counts were generally higher in the patients than controls, and the number of oral mucosal changes was increased. The results show that sicca symptoms, although frequent, were not correlated to secretory rates of saliva or tears, but to oral microbial counts. There was no obvious correlation to patient's age, disease activity or duration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Surgery and Oral Medicine, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Jensen
authors.forename: H O
authors.initials: HO
authors.lastname: Bergem
authors.forename: I M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Gilboe
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Husby
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Axéll
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000097:blood; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015352:Dry Eye Syndromes / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D010455:Peptides / Q000378:metabolism; D055232:Proline-Rich Protein Domains; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D012463:Saliva / Q000378:metabolism; D012471:Salivary Proteins and Peptides / Q000378:metabolism; D013666:Tears / Q000378:metabolism; D014987:Xerostomia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D000099053:Histidine-Rich Glycoprotein
chemical_list: D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D010455:Peptides; D011506:Proteins; C018149:STATH protein, human; D012471:Salivary Proteins and Peptides; D000099053:Histidine-Rich Glycoprotein