Saliva variations in gastro-oesophageal reflux disease

Campisi, G.; Lo Russo, L.; Di Liberto, C.; Di Nicola, F.; Butera, D.; Vigneri, S.; Compilato, D.; Lo Muzio, L.; Di Fede, O.

doi:10.1016/j.jdent.2008.01.003

« Previous Next »Journal of Dentistry
Volume 36, Issue 4 , Pages 268-271, April 2008

Saliva variations in gastro-oesophageal reflux disease

G. Campisi
- Department Oral Sciences, University of Palermo, Via del Vespro 129, 90127 Palermo, Italy
- Corresponding author. Fax: +39 091 655 2236.
L. Lo Russo
- Department Oral Sciences, University of Palermo, Via del Vespro 129, 90127 Palermo, Italy
C. Di Liberto
- Department Oral Sciences, University of Palermo, Via del Vespro 129, 90127 Palermo, Italy
F. Di Nicola
- Department Oral Sciences, University of Palermo, Via del Vespro 129, 90127 Palermo, Italy
D. Butera
- Departments of Pharmaceutical, Toxicological and Biological Chemistry, and Medical Biotechnologies and Forensic Medicine, University of Palermo, Italy
S. Vigneri
- Institute of Internal Medicine and Geriatrics, University of Palermo, Italy
D. Compilato
L. Lo Muzio
- Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Foggia, Italy
O. Di Fede
- Department Oral Sciences, University of Palermo, Via del Vespro 129, 90127 Palermo, Italy

Received 6 July 2007; received in revised form 7 January 2008; accepted 8 January 2008.

Abstract

Objectives

The protective role of saliva in the case of oesophageal exposition to gastric acid has long been studied but some contradictions still remain. The main end-point of this study was to evaluate if a qualitative and quantitative alteration in salivary secretion exists in patients affected by GERD.

Methods

One hundred and twenty patients (T group) with clinically and endoscopically diagnosed GERD, and 98 healthy subjects (C group) have been evaluated; salivary tests (i.e. basal flow rate, stimulated flow rate, pH, [Na⁺] and [K⁺]) were performed, socio-demographical variables and oral GERD-related symptoms were taken into account. SPSS 10.5 software was used for statistical univariate and multivariate analyses.

Results

GERD patients and controls were found to have a similar basal flow rate but different stimulated salivary function [T group mean value 0.989ml/min (±0.48718) vs. C group 1.2197ml/min (±0.6108), pH [T group mean value 8.935 (±0.471) vs. C group 7.879 (±0.526)] and a higher K⁺ concentration. In GERD patients we also registered a significant association with xerostomia [69/120 (57.5%) vs. 28/98 (28.7%)] and an oral burning sensation [58/120 (48.3%) vs. 19/98 (19.3%)].

Conclusions

Our findings assess that salivary secretion is altered in GERD patients and highlight the need for further investigations in order to define the role of saliva in the etiopathogenesis of GERD.

Keywords: Saliva, Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease, Salivary secretion