A Comparison of Orally Pilocarpine and Artificial Saliva in Xerostomy Treatment

Overview

The purpose of this study is to assess and compare the safetyness and efficacy of pilocarpine drops versus artificial saliva as symptomatic treatment for dry mouth and dry eyes caused by SS in a multicenter, doubleblind, controlled trial.

Title: Xerostomy treatment in patients with Sjogren's syndrome in Chile :A double blind control trial comparing orally Pilocarpine drops and Artificial Saliva Authors: Cristian Vera Kellet, Mirtha Cifuentes Mutinelli. Affiliations: Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile BACKGROUND Sjogren's syndrome (SS) is characterized by diminished exocrine secretions with the resultant xerostomia and xerophthalmia due to slowly progressive infiltration of lacrimal and salivary glands by inflamatory cells. OBJECTIVE: To assess and compare the safetyness and efficacy of pilocarpine drops versus artificial saliva as symptomatic treatment for dry mouth and dry eyes caused by SS in a multicenter, doubleblind, controlled trial. SUBJECTS AND METHODS After providing written informed consent, 72 patients with primary or secondary SS and clinically significant dry mouth and dry eyes will be randomized to receive either 5-mg pilocarpine drops, or artificial saliva 3 times daily for 12 weeks. Global evaluation and subjective responses of patients will be assessed by questionnaires with visual analog scales or categorical checkboxes. All patients will be submited to anxiety and psicological test before and after 12 weeks. Whole-mouth salivary flow and lacrimal flow will be measured using Schirmer test.

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