Salivary levels of cortisol and chromogranin A in patients with dry mouth compared with age-matched controls

• Published in: Oral surgery, oral medicine, oral pathology, oral radiology and endodontics Vol. 106; no. 6; pp. 833 - 839
• Main Authors: Shigeyama, Chieko, Ansai, Toshihiro, Awano, Shuji, Soh, Inho, Yoshida, Akihiro, Hamasaki, Tomoko, Kakinoki, Yasuaki, Tominaga, Kazuhiro, Takahashi, Tetsu, Takehara, Tadamichi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Mosby, Inc 01.12.2008; Elsevier
• Subjects: Age Factors; Biological and medical sciences; Bones, joints and connective tissue. Antiinflammatory agents; Case-Control Studies; Chromogranin A - analysis; Female; Humans; Hydrocortisone - analysis; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Otorhinolaryngology. Stomatology; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Saliva - chemistry; Saliva - secretion; Secretory Rate; Statistics, Nonparametric; Stress, Psychological - physiopathology; Surgery; Xerostomia - metabolism; Prevention; Human; Chromogranin; Antiinflammatory agent; Check; Hydrocortisone; Saliva; Xerostomia; Age; Comparative study
• ISSN: 1079-2104; 1528-395X; 1528-395X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tripleo.2008.07.005

To evaluate the salivary levels of cortisol and chromogranin A (CgA) in patients with dry mouth (perceived xerostomia and hyposalivation) compared with age-matched controls. We studied 174 subjects, including those with dry mouth, classified into 2 subgroups based on perceived xerostomia and salivation, and those without (control subjects). The control subjects were patients at the same hospital and healthy volunteers. Cortisol and CgA levels in stimulated whole saliva were measured using ELISA kits. All subjects with dry mouth had significantly higher cortisol and CgA levels than the control subjects. The statistical associations remained significant when they were divided into the 2 subgroups, although somewhat weaker associations were observed. The influences of xerogenic drugs were found to be minimal on salivary flow rate and levels of cortisol and CgA. We found significant associations between salivary cortisol and CgA levels and symptoms of oral dryness and reduced salivary flow.