title: Pilocarpine in the prevention of postirradiation xerostomia.
abstract: During radiation therapy to the head and neck region, salivary gland hypofunction commonly develops. The aim of our study was to evaluate whether the sialogogue pilocarpine given during radiation therapy may reduce the severity of xerostomia and salivary dysfunction. Our results showed the pilocarpine-treated group to have a lower frequency of oral symptoms during the treatment than the placebo-treated group. Although salivary flow decreased in all patients, the pilocarpine-treated group had smaller flow reductions. No drug effect was observed in the glands that were completely irradiated. Thus, pilocarpine appeared to stimulate salivary tissues outside the radiation field.
authors.affiliation: ENT Department, Merkur University Hospital, Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Lajtman
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Krajina
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Krpan
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vincelj
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Borcić
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Popović-Kovacić
mesh_terms: D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy; D006801:Humans; D018721:Muscarinic Agonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010862:Pilocarpine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012472:Salivation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D014987:Xerostomia / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D018721:Muscarinic Agonists; D010862:Pilocarpine