Abstract
This study aimed to investigate the relationships among sicca symptoms, oral health conditions, salivary profiles and oral Candida in Sjögren’s syndrome (SS) patients. Eighty-five SS patients (mean age = 50.5) and 40 healthy non-SS individuals (mean age = 51.4) were recruited. They self-completed the Sicca Symptoms Inventory (SSI). Decayed, missing and filled surface (DMFS) scores, salivary flow rates, pH and oral Candida colonization were determined. Mean SSI summary scores of SS patients and non-SS individuals were 11.1 and 5.4 respectively (p < 0.001). The most prevalent sicca symptoms in SS patients were eye irritation (93%), dry throat or nose (88%) and need of fluid for mouth wetting (88%). SS patients had significantly lower whole salivary flow rates than the non-SS individuals. Candida strains were isolated from over 60% of SS patients but not in non-SS patients. C. albicans was the predominant species. SSI summary score was negatively correlated to salivary flow rates while SSI summary and domain scores were positively correlated to the number of filled surfaces (FS) and DMFS scores and oral Candida counts. In conclusion, SS patients had more severe sicca symptoms than non-SS individuals. SSI scores were negatively correlated to the salivary flow rates but positively correlated to caries experience and oral Candida colonization.
Highlights
Sjögren’s syndrome (SS) is a slowly progressive autoimmune disorder of exocrine glands which is characterized by intense lymphocytic infiltration [1]
Potential recruits were excluded if they were less than 18 years of age, had received therapeutic irradiation to the head and neck region, had concurrent systemic illness or were taking any medication that altered salivary flow
About half of them were engaged in employment
Summary
Sjögren’s syndrome (SS) is a slowly progressive autoimmune disorder of exocrine glands which is characterized by intense lymphocytic infiltration [1]. Primary SS (pSS) occurs in the absence of connective tissue diseases and secondary Sjögren’s syndrome (sSS) is associated with connective tissue diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) or systemic sclerosis [2,3]. Destruction of the exocrine gland tissues results in reduction of salivary, lacrimal and other exocrine secretions. Dry mouth and dry eyes are major chief complaints of patients with SS. SS sufferers may present with other sicca symptoms such as skin and vaginal dryness, as well as fatigue and somatic discomfort [4]. The Sicca Symptoms Inventory (SSI) was developed as part of a comprehensive questionnaire tool, the Profile of Fatigue and Discomfort—Sicca
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