Quantitative analysis of the salivary flow in patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis

Aim: The aim of the present research is to compare the volume of the salivary flow (Vsal, flow) patients affected by Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA), under drug treatment or untreated, with the standard values descripted by Leo M. Sreeby and Arjan Vissin (0,25mL/min ≤ V sal, flow basal ≤ 0,35 mL/min; 1mL/min ≤ V sal, flow stimulated ≤ 3mL/min) in order to individuate eventual anomalies which might engrave on the health of the oral cavity. Methods: At the Department of Orthodontics of the Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico f Milan 39 JIA patiens, 16 males and 23 females, aged between 7 and 25 years were selected: 21 were under drug treatment prescribed by the rheumatologist and 18 were untreated. The sample was subjected to a salivary test, in sitting position, by means of which it was possible to monitor for 5 minutes, in sitting position, the volume of basal salivary flow and salivary flow stimulated with lemon juice: one drop (0,04 mL)/min put on the tip of the tongue. Results: The collected data put in evidence an average salivary flow volume of 0,2 mL/min and a stimulated salivary flow volume of 0,8 mL/min, both measures less than the values of Leo. M. Sreeby and Arjan Vissin taken as reference. Differently in the group non in therapy, a basal salivary flow volume of 0,4mL/min, higher than the major value of references, was obtained, value internal to the considered range. Conclusion: In this study was observed that JIA subject that are not under drug treatment present a basal salivary flow increased of 25% compared to the standard values of Leo M Sreeby e Arjan Vissin. Differently, in the sample under pharmacological rheumatological treatment was registered a quantity of basal salivary flow reduced of 33% for both the considerations, compared to the values selected as a model. Which of these drugs shell be mostly responsible and if they are more influent in single or combined prescription, still remains to be cleared.