PREVALENCE OF RADIOLUCENT PERIAPICAL LESIONS IN PATIENTS WITH PRIMARY SJOGREN SYNDROME

Abstract

Objective: Define prevalence of radiolucent periapical lesions (RLP) in patients with primary Sjogren syndrome (SSP) and characterize the teeth associated with RLP. Methods: The radiographs were analyzed using Image J software by a radiologist. A socioeconomic questionnaire was applied. The salivary flow was evaluated through the collection of nonstimulated saliva. Mean and standard deviation (SD) for the quantitative variables and absolute and relative frequency of the qualitative variables was calculated. The χ2 test (95% CI) compared the difference between proportions of the qualitative variables, and the Student t test compared means of quantitative variables between patients with and without periapical lesions. Results: All 24 patients were female, aged between 20 and 71 years, with xerostomia, and 80% had hyposalivation. At least 1 RLP was found in 70.8% of patients. The mean number of teeth per patient was 23.3 ± 3.1 with a prevalence of RLP in the teeth of 7.86% of patients. The teeth with RLP had a higher percentage of root-fillings and caries located more in the central superior sextant (P