Abstract
BackgroundThe aim of this study was to evaluate chemosensory function and oral disorders in patients with primary Sjögren’s syndrome (pSS) and to compare these findings with those of age- and gender-matched healthy controls.MethodsThis comparative cross-sectional study included 58 patients with primary Sjögren’s syndrome (pSS) and 55 age- and gender-matched healthy controls. Olfactory and gustatory function, burning sensations in the tongue (BST) and halitosis were assessed. Oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) was evaluated using the short-form Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14).ResultsPatients with pSS had significantly lower self-reported visual analogue scale (VAS) smell score (8.6 ± 2.2 vs. 9.6 ± 0.7, p = 0.016) and VAS taste score (8.5 ± 2.1 vs. 9.5 ± 0.7, p = 0.014) than healthy controls. A greater proportion of patients with pSS had anosmia (3.8% vs. 0.0%) or hyposmia (36.5% vs. 13.2%) and ageusia for basic tastes: sweetness (34.0% vs. 7.5%), sourness (10.6% vs. 0.0), saltiness (10.0% vs. 5.7%) or bitterness (19.1% vs. 1.9%) as evaluated using Sniffin Sticks test and taste stripts, respectively. A higher proportion of pSS patients complained of dysgeusia (52.6% vs. 9.4%, p < 0.0001) and BST (45.6% vs. 0.0%, p < 0.0001), while similar number of patients with pSS and controls reported halitosis (31.6% vs. 28.3%, p = 0.434). The mean OHIP-14 score was significantly higher in patients with pSS (6.8 ± 7.0 vs. 2.3 ± 8.5, p < 0.001) indicating patients’ poorer OHRQoL compared with controls.ConclusionsThe majority of patients with pSS had impaired chemosensory function and indicators of oral health in comparison with the age- and gender-matched healthy controls. Further studies of oral hygiene habits and dietary intake of these patients are needed to ensure better management of oral health problems in patients with pSS.
Highlights
The aim of this study was to evaluate chemosensory function and oral disorders in patients with primary Sjögren’s syndrome and to compare these findings with those of age- and gender-matched healthy controls
The hallmarks of s syndrome (SS) are lymphocytic infiltration of the exocrine glands and the presence of circulating autoantibodies [2], as well as autoantibodies directed against muscarinic acetylcholine type 3 receptors (M3R), which functionally inhibit salivary secretion [3]
If the patients had already been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) or scleroderma prior to developing their sicca symptoms, they were diagnosed with secondary SS
Summary
The aim of this study was to evaluate chemosensory function and oral disorders in patients with primary Sjögren’s syndrome (pSS) and to compare these findings with those of age- and gender-matched healthy controls. Especially salivary and lacrimal glands, are mainly affected leading to dryness of the mouth and/or eyes. Sjögren’s syndrome can be further subclassified into primary disease (primary Sjögren syndrome, pSS) and secondary disease (secondary Sjögren syndrome, sSS), when it is associated with another connective tissue disease [1]. The hallmarks of SS are lymphocytic infiltration of the exocrine glands and the presence of circulating autoantibodies (anti-Ro/ SS-A, anti-La/SS-B) [2], as well as autoantibodies directed against muscarinic acetylcholine type 3 receptors (M3R), which functionally inhibit salivary secretion [3]
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