Abstract
When 16 hemodialysis patients were asked by a questionnaire, about the presence or absence of dry mouth, 15 of them answered in the affirmative. In these patients, salivary flow volume and concentrations of salivary components (Na, K, Cl, P, BUN, Cr, osmolarity, amylase and pH) were measured before and after hemodialysis. It was found that salivary flow volume in hemodialysis patients was lower both before and after hemodialysis than that in healthy persons and that their post-dialysis salivary flow volume was significantly larger than that before dialysis. Futher all the salivary components measured were lower or tended to be lower after hemodialysis. Among other things, a positive correlation was observed after hemodialysis between % decrease in salivary osmolarity and % increase in salivary flow rate, a finding suggesting that increased osmolarity might be involved in the dry mouth experienced by hemodialysis patients. Sialography performed in 5 patients demonstrated dilatation of the primary duct and atrophy of glands in 3 of them, indicating the presence of irreversible xerostomia characterized by decreased salivary flow volume.
