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Radiation‐induced xerostomia in cancer patients. Effect on salivary and serum electrolytes
Author(s) -
Dreizen Samuel,
Brown Lee R.,
Handler Sandra,
Levy Barnet M.
Publication year - 1976
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/1097-0142(197607)38:1<273::aid-cncr2820380141>3.0.co;2-8
Subject(s) - saliva , medicine , electrolyte , cancer , endocrinology , dentistry , gastroenterology , chemistry , electrode
Saliva and serum electrolyte concentrations were monitored in 30 patients given a course of xerostomia‐producing cancer radiotherapy. The mean flow rate of stimulated whole saliva decreased 83.3% during a 6‐week treatment period. The striking reduction in saliva output was accompanied by significant increases in saliva Na + , Cl − , Ca ++ , Mg ++ and Prot. − concentrations and by a decrease in saliva HCO 3 −content. The xerostomic saliva was more concentrated and had a greater salinity than the pretreatment saliva in each instance. In contrast, none of the serum electrolytes measured was significantly altered by the subtotal salivary shutdown.