Faculty Bibliography

The flow rate and composition of whole unstimulated saliva were measured in fifteen healthy controls and in forty-eight xerostomic patients, fourteen suffering from xerostomia per se, twenty-two from xerostomia with keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS), and twelve from xerostomia, KCS, and rheumatoid arthritis. A significant lower salivary flow rate was found in all the xerostomic patients. Sodium, potassium, and IgA concentrations were significantly elevated in the KCS and in the RA + KCS group in comparison with the patients who had xerostomia per se and with the healthy controls. Sialochemistry is thus recommended for the diagnosis of Sjogren's syndrome in xerostomic patients.

Seventy-one patients complaining of mouth dryness were examined. Decreased salivary rate of flow was found in fifty-six. Twenty-two patients did not respond to stimulation and were treated with artificial saliva. The thirty-four responding patients were treated with a mouthwash containing citric acid (Saliram). Of the patients using Saliram, 91 percent were satisfied with the results, and in 16 percent of these an increase in salivation was observed and persisted after treatment was discontinued.