Pilocarpine treatment in a mixed cohort of xerostomic patients.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the effect of a single 5-mg dose of pilocarpine hydrochloride on the salivary flow rate in three groups of xerostomic patients.


METHODS
Forty-five patients were divided into three groups according to the etiology of their xerostomia: (i) radiotherapy; (ii) Sjögren's syndrome; and (iii) sialosis and xerogenic medications. Following the oral administration of a 5-mg pilocarpine hydrochloride tablet blood pressure, heart rate, body temperature and saliva secretion rates were monitored hourly for 3 h and adverse events were reported.


RESULTS
The most significant and persistent elevation of salivary flow rate was observed in the sialosis/drug-induced group followed by the Sjögren's syndrome group. The radiotherapy group presented a significant elevation of salivary secretion rate after 1 and 2 h, but returned to baseline at 3 h. No significant changes in vital signs were reported, except for low diastolic pressure measured at 1 h in the radiotherapy group. Several adverse events were recorded throughout the trial; however, only one patient withdrew from the study.


CONCLUSIONS
Treatment with pilocarpine hydrochloride tablets may improve saliva secretion in patients taking xerogenic medications and/or suffering from metabolic sialosis expanding the beneficial potential of this sialogogue.
Aframian
D J
DJ
Salivary Gland Clinic, Department of Oral Medicine, The Hebrew University-Hadassah School of Dental Medicine, Jerusalem, Israel. daframian@yahoo.com
Helcer
M
M
Livni
D
D
Robinson
S D M
SD
Markitziu
A
A
Nadler
C
C
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D001831:Body Temperature / Q000187:drug effects; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004244:Dizziness / Q000139:chemically induced; D064420:Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018721:Muscarinic Agonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010862:Pilocarpine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D012463:Saliva / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D012636:Secretory Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D012793:Sialadenitis / Q000150:complications; D012859:Sjogren's Syndrome / Q000150:complications; D013546:Sweating / Q000187:drug effects; D014554:Urination / Q000187:drug effects; D014987:Xerostomia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology
D018721:Muscarinic Agonists; D010862:Pilocarpine