Parasympathomimetic Sialogogues And Salivary Gland Dysfunction

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine the long-term effect (≥3 years) of sialogogues (Evoxac™ and Salagen®) on salivary flow rate and total salivary protein in patients with salivary gland dysfunction.

Method: Fifty patients were included in this study (25 patients were using sialogogue and 25 patients did not use sialogogue). The inclusion criteria included records of baseline salivary evaluation with subsequent annual evaluation for ≥3 years, and for the sialogogue group; patients must have been using a sialogogue during such period. Clinical and salivary parameters were collected, tabulated, and statistical analysis was performed using t-test and Fisher’s exact test for comparisons between the two groups. Repeated measure ANOVA was used to examine changes in salivary flow rate and total protein over time within each group. All analyses were performed using SAS version 9.2 (SAS Institute Inc, Cary, NC) and R program; all p-values were 2-sided at p≤0.05.

Result: Patient characteristics and salivary parameters at baseline were similar for both groups (sialogogue and no sialogogue). The mean±SD salivary flow rate at baseline was 0.30 ±0.22ml/min/gland vs. 0.36 ±0.22ml/ min/gland, and total salivary protein was 156.5 ±88.9mg% vs. 155.5 ±107.3mg%, respectively. There was a significant improvement in salivary flow and total protein among patient using sialogogues overtime (p=0.037 and p=0.002, respectively). No significant change was observed among patients who did not use sialogogues.

Conclusion: Parasympathomimetic sialogogues appear to improve salivary parameters in patients with salivary gland dysfunction.