Sialendoscopy enhances salivary gland function in Sjögren’s syndrome: a 6 month follow-up, randomized and controlled, single blind study

Objectives: To assess the effect of sialendoscopy of the major salivary glands on salivary flow and xerostomia in patients with Sjögren’s syndrome (SS). Methods: Forty nine SS patients were randomly assigned to a control group (n=15) and two intervention groups: irrigation of the major glands with saline (n=16) or with saline followed by triamcinolone acetonide (TA) in saline (n=18). Unstimulated whole saliva flow (UWS), chewing stimulated whole saliva flow (SWS), citric-acid stimulated parotid flow (SPF), Clinical Oral Dryness Score (CODS), Xerostomia Inventory score (XI), and EULAR SS Patient Reported Index (ESSPRI) were obtained 1 week (T0) before, and 1(T1), 8(T8), 16(T16), and 24(T24) weeks after sialendoscopy. Results: Median baseline UWS, SWS and SPF scores were, respectively, 0.14, 0.46, and 0.22mL/min. After intervention, significant increases in UWS and SWS were observed in the saline group (at T8 (p=0.013) and T24 (p=0.004)) and the saline/TA group (at T24 (p=0.03) and T=16 (...