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Ann Rheum Dis 1998;57:464-469 doi:10.1136/ard.57.8.464
  • Extended reports

Corticosteroid irrigation of parotid gland for treatment of xerostomia in patients with Sjögren’s syndrome

  1. Masahiro Izumia,
  2. Katsumi Eguchib,
  3. Hideki Nakamurab,
  4. Yukinori Takagia,
  5. Yojiro Kawabeb,
  6. Takashi Nakamuraa
  1. aDepartment of Radiology and Cancer Biology, Nagasaki University School of Dentistry, Japan, bFirst Department of Internal Medicine, Nagasaki University School of Medicine, Japan
  1. Dr T Nakamura, Department of Radiology and Cancer Biology, Nagasaki University School of Dentistry, 1–7–1 Sakamoto, Nagasaki 852–8588, Japan.
  • Accepted 26 June 1998

Abstract

OBJECTIVE To determine the efficacy of corticosteroid irrigation of the parotid gland in relieving salivary flow deficiency in patients with Sjögren’s syndrome.

METHODS The parotid glands of 31 patients with primary (24) or secondary (seven) Sjögren’s syndrome were irrigated either with saline solution followed by corticosteroid solution, or with saline solution alone. Salivary function was assessed by Saxon test.

RESULTS Corticosteroid irrigation significantly increased the salivary flow rate in patients with Sjögren’s syndrome (p< 0.0001), with clinical improvement detectable 3.7 (2.4) weeks (mean (SD)) after initial corticosteroid irrigation. The extent of improvement in salivary function was reciprocal to the clinical severity of the disease, with patients at the early stages obtaining 1.20 (0.57) g net increase in salivary flow rate, and patients at the most advanced stages obtaining 0.20 (0.47) g net increase. Repeated corticosteroid irrigations did not evoke corticosteroid refractoriness of the salivary gland; similar levels of net increase in salivary flow rate were observed after the second to fourth challenge of the corticosteroid in these patients. The sustained period was 8.4 (3.5) months (mean (SD)).

CONCLUSION These findings suggest the clinical usefulness of corticosteroid irrigation therapy in relieving xerostomia in patients with Sjögren’s syndrome.

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