title: Microflora of the oral cavity in patients with xerostomia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the dependence of the condition of the microflora of the oral cavity on the etiology of xerostomia, patients' sex, age, degree of hyposalivation, and duration of the sense of dryness.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 64 patients with complaints of oral dryness referred to the Clinic of Oral and Dental Diseases, Hospital of Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, for consultation during the period from 2003 to 2005 were selected for the study. The etiological factors of xerostomia were as follows: radiotherapy (PRT) to the maxillofacial area, Sjögren's syndrome (SS), and xerogenic medications, tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs).
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 50 women and 14 men. Their mean age was 60.5 ± 1.6 years. All the patients in the PRT group had high counts of Candida spp. as compared with percentages of patients in the TCA and SS groups (100% vs. 66.7% and 56.2%, P<0.05). Patients' age and sex in different etiology groups had no significant impact on the condition of their oral microflora. There were equal percentages of patients with deficient and normal salivation in the TCA group (44% in both the groups; P<0.01). All the patients in the PRT group had pronounced hyposalivation (P<0.002). A significantly greater percentage of patients with severely reduced salivation had high counts of Lactobacillus spp. (P<0.01). Significantly greater percentages of patients with the clinical duration of xerostomia of up to 6 months had high counts of Lactobacillus spp. and Candida spp. colonies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In patients with xerostomia, the condition of the microflora of the oral cavity and impairment of major salivary gland function varied according to the etiology of the disease. The level of hyposalivation and the duration of xerostomia were found to have a significant impact on the microflora of the oral cavity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dental and Oral Pathology, Medical Academy, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Eivenių 2, 50028 Kaunas, Lithuania. zygimantasg@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Žygimantas
authors.initials: Ž
authors.lastname: Guobis
authors.forename: Violeta
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kareivienė
authors.forename: Nomeda
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Basevičienė
authors.forename: Pajauta
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Paipalienė
authors.forename: Irena
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Niedzelskienė
authors.forename: Gintautas
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sabalys
authors.forename: Ričardas
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kubilius
authors.forename: Albinas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gervickas
mesh_terms: D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D002175:Candida / Q000166:cytology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007778:Lactobacillus / Q000166:cytology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D008297:Male; D008439:Maxillary Diseases / Q000532:radiotherapy; D008875:Middle Aged; D009055:Mouth / Q000382:microbiology*; D012463:Saliva / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology; D012469:Salivary Glands / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology*; D012636:Secretory Rate; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000166:cytology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014987:Xerostomia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000209:etiology*
chemical_list: D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic