title: Detection of HCV RNA in saliva does not correlate with salivary flow or xerostomia in patients with chronic hepatitis C.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA in saliva and its possible association with xerostomia and hyposalivation in patients with chronic hepatitis C.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and thirty-six patients with confirmed diagnosis of chronic hepatitis C were prospectively analyzed before HCV treatment. The prevalence of xerostomia and hyposalivation was clinically evaluated. HCV RNA was investigated in saliva samples by qualitative PCR test. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to verify associations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Xerostomia was reported by 48 (35.3%) patients, whereas hyposalivation was observed in 26 (19.1%). HCV RNA was positive in the saliva of 53 (39.0%) patients. An association among HCV RNA-positive saliva with xerostomia or hyposalivation was not observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results demonstrate that the detection of HCV in saliva does not correlate with salivary flow or xerostomia in patients with chronic hepatitis C.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Surgery and Pathology, School of Dentistry, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.
authors.forename: Soraya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: de Mattos Camargo Grossmann
authors.forename: Rosângela
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Teixeira
authors.forename: Guilherme Corrêa
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: de Oliveira
authors.forename: Maria Auxiliadora Vieira
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: do Carmo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics*; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000150:complications* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012463:Saliva / Q000821:virology*; D012472:Salivation / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D014987:Xerostomia / Q000150:complications / Q000821:virology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D012367:RNA, Viral