MUC5B in Drug-Induced Xerostomia after Treatment with 1% Malic Acid

Method: The investigation was designed as a single-blinded pilot study including 15 patients suffering for xerostomia (acording Dry Mouth Questionnaire -DMQ-) as a consequence of chronic administration (more than three months prior to the intervention) of antidepressive and/or antihypertensive medication. All participants were prospectively evaluated before and after using a topical sialogogue spray containing 1% malic acid (Xeros Dentaid^®Spray) during two weeks at Faculty of Dentistry of University of Granada (Spain). Unstimulated and stimulated salivary flows rates were measured before and after spray application. MUC5B levels in saliva samples were determined by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Each study patient was compared to the pooled simple of healthy volunteers. MUC5B levels were expressed in Optical Density (OD).

Results: At two weeks MUC5B salivary levels increased significantly from 0.210 ± 0.08 OD to 0.308 ± 0.02 OD (p < 0.05), DMQ scores increased (clinically meaningful) (p < 0.05), and unstimulated and stimulated salivary flow rates increased (p< 0.05).

Conclusion: According our pilot study results MUC5B may hydrate and lubricate the soft tissues of the mouth so improves dry mouth feeling in patients with drug-induced xerostomia.

This study was funded by the national project FIS-PI10/00932 (Spanish Government, Instituto de Salud Carlos III), within the framework of the research group “CTS-654, Pharmacological Research in Dentistry”, sponsored by the Regional Government of Andalucía (Spain).