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Oral and ocular sicca symptoms and findings are prevalent in systemic lupus erythematosus
Author(s) -
Jensen J. L.,
Bergem H. O.,
Gilboe I. M.,
Husby G.,
Axéll T.
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
journal of oral pathology and medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.887
H-Index - 83
eISSN - 1600-0714
pISSN - 0904-2512
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0714.1999.tb02047.x
Subject(s) - medicine , sicca syndrome , dermatology , keratoconjunctivitis sicca , systemic disease , lupus erythematosus , immunopathology , immunology , pathology , disease , antibody
The aims of this study were 1) to examine the frequency of oral and ocular sicca symptoms in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE); 2) to compare saliva and tear volume, salivary proteins, and features of the oral microflora and mucosa to a matched healthy control group; and 3) to relate the findings to disease parameters. Median disease duration was 5.5 (0.5–28) years, disease activity 5 (2–20), damage score 1 (0–7), and Schirmer I test 7.5 (0–30 mm). Seventeen and twelve patients complained of oral and ocular dryness, respectively. Unstimulated whole saliva and proline‐rich proteins in submandibular saliva were significantly reduced in SLE. Oral microbial counts were generally higher in the patients than controls, and the number of oral mucosal changes was increased. The results show that sicca symptoms, although frequent, were not correlated to secretory rates of saliva or tears, but to oral microbial counts. There was no obvious correlation to patient's age, disease activity or duration.