Saliva from Sjogren's syndrome patients can be differentiated from saliva of healthy controls. Researchers from the National Institute for Dental and Craniofacial Research in Bethesda, Maryland used various tests to measure protein profiles in the saliva of 20 healthy controls compared to 41 primary Sjogren's syndrome patients.
Results showed the concentrations of eight inflammatory proteins were increased by at least two-fold in the saliva of Sjogren's syndrome patients. Two other proteins produced by the salivary gland were decreased. Researchers believe that replenishing these proteins in artificial saliva may help treat dry mouth associated with Sjogren's syndrome.
The research, along with future research, should allow Sjogren's syndrome patients to be diagnosed more quickly, have new treatment options, and allow researchers to develop better saliva substitutes. Diagnosing Sjogren's syndrome requires a biopsy of the salivary gland at this time.
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