title: Salivary transforming growth factor alpha in patients with Sjögren's syndrome and reflux laryngitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Saliva plays a key role in the homeostasis of the digestive tract, through its inorganic components and its protein growth factors. Sjögren's syndrome patients have a higher prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux disease and laryngopharyngeal reflux. Decreased salivary transforming growth factor alpha levels were observed in dyspeptic patients, but there have been no studies in patients with Sjögren's syndrome and laryngopharyngeal reflux.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To compare the salivary transforming growth factor alpha levels of patients with Sjögren's syndrome and laryngopharyngeal reflux to those of healthy controls.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a prospective controlled study. Twelve patients with Sjögren's syndrome and laryngopharyngeal reflux and 11 controls were prospectively evaluated. Spontaneous and stimulated saliva samples were obtained to establish salivary transforming growth factor alpha concentrations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The salivary transforming growth factor alpha levels of patients were significantly higher than those of healthy controls. Five patients with laryngopharyngeal reflux also had erosive esophagitis; their salivary transforming growth factor alpha levels were comparable to controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Salivary transforming growth factor alpha level was significantly higher in patients with Sjögren's syndrome and laryngopharyngeal reflux when compared to the control group.
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Ciências Médicas da Santa Casa de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil; Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Hospital Central da Irmandade da Santa Casa de Misericórdia de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil. Electronic address: marcoantoniocorvo@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Marco Antonio dos Anjos
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Corvo
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Ciências Médicas da Santa Casa de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil; Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Hospital Central da Irmandade da Santa Casa de Misericórdia de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Claudia Alessandra
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Eckley
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Universidade de São Paulo (USP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil; Instituto Israelita de Ensino e Pesquisa Albert Einstein, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Luis Vicente
authors.initials: LV
authors.lastname: Rizzo
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Universidade de São Paulo (USP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil; Instituto Israelita de Ensino e Pesquisa Albert Einstein, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Luiz Roberto
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Sardinha
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo (USP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil; School of Medicine, Universidade de São Paulo (USP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Tomas Navarro
authors.initials: TN
authors.lastname: Rodriguez
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Ciências Médicas da Santa Casa de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil; Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Hospital Central da Irmandade da Santa Casa de Misericórdia de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ivo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Bussoloti Filho
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D057045:Laryngopharyngeal Reflux / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry*; D012859:Sjogren's Syndrome / Q000378:metabolism*; D016211:Transforming Growth Factor alpha / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D016211:Transforming Growth Factor alpha
keywords: Epidermal growth factor; Fator de crescimento epidérmico; Fator transformador de crescimento alfa; Laryngopharyngeal reflux; Refluxo laringofaríngeo; Saliva; Sjögren's syndrome; Síndrome de Sjögren; Transforming growth factor alpha; Xerostomia