title: [Usefulness of the saliva ferning test in diagnosis of Sjögren's syndrome].
abstract: One of the characteristics of mucous is its ability to crystallize to the form of ferns when it is dried at room temperature and observed by polarized light microscopy (ferning phenomenon-FP). Several studies have shown that dry mouth can be diagnosed on the basis the loss of FP in dried saliva samples. The aim of our study was to evaluate the value of saliva ferning test (SFT) in the diagnosis of Sjögren's syndrome (SS). Saliva was taken from 11 patients with primary SS, 32 patients with secondary SS as well as from 27 controls. Samples of freshly produced saliva were dropped on light-microscope slides and allowed to dry at room temperature. Crystallization was observed by polarizing light microscopy within 10 minutes after collection. The type of crystallization was classified acc. to Rolando et al. Abnormal SFT was observed in 11 (100%) patients with primary SS and 27 (84%) patients with secondary SS. Saliva from 5 (16%) patients with secondary SS and from 27 (100%) control patients yielded normal picture of crystallization. In our opinion SFT is a simple, reproducible, and useful non-invasive diagnostic test in SS.
authors.affiliation: Klinika Reumatologiczno-Rehabilitacyjna AM im. Karola Marcinkowskiego.
authors.forename: Mariusz
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Puszczewicz
authors.forename: Irena
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Zimmermann-Górska
authors.forename: Grazyna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Białkowska-Puszczewicz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003460:Crystallization; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012463:Saliva / Q000166:cytology*; D012859:Sjogren's Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D014987:Xerostomia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology
vernacular_title: Przydatność testu krystalizacji śliny w diagnostyce zespołu Sjögrena.