Salivary gland hypofunction can have a devastating effect on oral health and may be an indicator of systemic disease such as Sjögren's syndrome. This prospective study investigates the oral and non-oral signs and symptoms in 120 patients with objective evidence of salivary gland hypofunction (ie, an unstimulated whole salivary flow of < 0.2 ml/min). Patients were questioned about symptoms associated with decreased oral function; non-oral symptoms were also noted. The underlying cause of salivary gland hypofunction was established on the basis of clinical and laboratory findings and further investigations. Eighty-five per cent of patients reported symptoms of decreased oral function in addition to oral dryness. Non-oral signs and symptoms were reported by 106 patients. Fifty-three per cent of patients were diagnosed as having Sjögren's syndrome. The prevalence of the following non-oral signs and symptoms were significantly higher in patients with Sjögren's syndrome, than in those without; a history of dry/irritated eyes, salivary gland swelling, dry skin and reduced lacrimal flow. Salivary gland hypofunction is associated with a wide range of oral and non-oral signs and symptoms. Several of these are of potential value as triggers for the clinician to identify patients with Sjögren's syndrome, and should serve to prompt referral for specialist investigation.
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机译：唾液腺功能低下可能对口腔健康造成毁灭性影响，并且可能是系统性疾病（如干燥综合征）的指标。这项前瞻性研究调查了120例唾液腺功能低下的客观证据（即未刺激的整个唾液流量<0.2 ml / min）的患者的口腔和非口腔体征和症状。询问患者有关口腔功能下降的症状；还注意到非口服症状。唾液腺功能低下的根本原因是根据临床和实验室发现以及进一步的调查确定的。 85％的患者报告了除了口腔干燥以外，口腔功能下降的症状。 106例患者报告了非口腔体征和症状。 53％的患者被诊断患有干燥综合征。干燥综合征患者以下非口腔症状和体征的发生率明显高于无干燥综合征患者。有干眼/发炎，唾液腺肿胀，皮肤干燥和泪流减少的病史。唾液腺功能低下与多种口腔和非口腔体征和症状有关。其中一些具有潜在价值，可激发临床医生确定患有干燥综合征的患者，并应有助于迅速转诊进行专科检查。
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