title: Salivary gland dysfunction markers in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic disease of the carbohydrate metabolism that, when not rigorously controlled, compromises systemic and organ integrity, thereby causing renal diseases, blindness, neuropathy, arteriosclerosis, infections, and glandular dysfunction, including the salivary glands. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between the qualitative and quantitative parameters of salivary alteration, which are indicators of salivary gland dysfunction, and the level of metabolic control of type 2 diabetes patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  A convenience sample of 74 voluntary patients with type 2 DM was selected, each of whom donated a sample of unstimulated saliva. Salivary parameters such as salivary flow rate, protein concentration, pH, and xerostomia were studied.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There is a positive relationship between the level of metabolic control measured with HbA1 and the protein concentration in saliva (Spearman rho = 0.329 and p = 0.004). The same assay showed an inverse correlation between HbA1 and pH (Spearman rho = -0.225 and p = 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The protein concentration in saliva and, to a lesser extent, the pH may be useful as glandular dysfunction indicators in DM2 patients.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Saliva, type 2 diabetes mellitus, pH, protein concentration, xerostomia.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Patología y Medicina Oral. Facultad de Odontología. Universidad de Chile.
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Aitken-Saavedra
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Patología y Medicina Oral. Facultad de Odontología. Universidad de Chile.
authors.forename: Gonzalo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rojas-Alcayaga
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Patología y Medicina Oral. Facultad de Odontología. Universidad de Chile.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Maturana-Ramírez
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Investigación en Ciencias Odontológicas. Facultad de Odontología. Universidad de Chile.
authors.forename: Alejandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Escobar-Álvarez
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Investigación en Ciencias Odontológicas. Facultad de Odontología. Universidad de Chile.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cortes-Coloma
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Patología y Medicina Oral. Facultad de Odontología. Universidad de Chile.
authors.forename: Montserrat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Reyes-Rojas
authors.affiliation: Dental student. Facultad de Odontología. Universidad de Chile.
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Viera-Sapiain
authors.affiliation: Dental student. Facultad de Odontología. Universidad de Chile.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Villablanca-Martínez
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Investigación en Ciencias Odontológicas. Facultad de Odontología. Universidad de Chile.
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Morales-Bozo