Xerostomia Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Xerostomia, including details on dry mouth, treatment, causes, lack of saliva.

Late effects of chronic graft-vs.-host disease in minor salivary glands.

Alborghetti MR, Corrêa ME, Adam RL, Metze K, Coracin FL, de Souza CA, Cintra ML

Department of Pathology, Medical School, State University of Campinas (UNICAMP), CEP 13081-970, Campinas-SP, Brazil.

BACKGROUND: The established pathologic criteria for minor salivary gland (MSG) involvement in chronic graft-vs.-host disease (cGVHD) could play a role in monitoring response to therapy. METHODS: We evaluated MSG sequential biopsies during cGVHD therapy in 14 allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT) patients. Nine patients that did not develop GVHD after BMT entered the control group. Biopsies were examined using hematoxylin-eosin, Periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) and leukocyte common antigen staining. RESULTS: A significant loss of PAS+ acinar volume was observed at the diagnosis of cGVHD as much as at the end of treatment when compared with the control group. In the second evaluation, the inflammatory infiltrate was still greater than control group. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that persistent xerostomia after cGVHD treatment is because of maintenance of lymphocytic infiltrate and consequent absence of MSG secretory unit recovery. This data may be useful to provide improved insight into the histopathology of this organ involvement.

Published 10 August 2005 in J Oral Pathol Med, 34(8): 486-93.
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