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.

Laryngeal findings and voice quality in Sjögren's syndrome.

Ogut F, Midilli R, Oder G, Engin EZ, Karci B, Kabasakal Y

Ege University, Medical Faculty, ENT Department, Izmir Turkey.

OBJECTIVE: The effect of Sjögren syndrome (SS) on perceptual ratings of the laryngeal findings using the Reflux Finding Score (RFS) and the Reflux Symptom Index (RSI) and the objective voice quality using Jitter (JITT), Pitch Period Perturbation Quotient (PPQ), Shimmer (Shim), Amplitude Perturbation Quotient (APQ) and Noise-to-Harmonic Ratio (NHR) was examined. METHODS: Seventy-seven patients with SS and seventy-seven healthy individuals for the control group were studied. The Reflux Symptom Index (RSI); nine-item outcomes instrument for assessment of symptoms in patients and the Reflux Finding Score (RFS), eight-item laryngoscopic-based scale for evaluation of laryngeal findings in patients were realised. The Multi Dimensional Voice Program (MDVP) was used for capturing and analysis of the voice samples. For comparison of all parameters of patients and control group subjects, the independent sample t-test was used. RESULTS: The difference of RSI and RFS between patients with SS and control subjects was statistically significant. The difference of voice quality parameters between patients with SS and control subjects expect NHR were statistically significant. CONCLUSION: There is a significant association between SS and a variety of laryngeal pathologies. The SS patients with reflux symptoms and voice problems must be examined by an ENT specialist and local laryngeal manifestations of SS can be treated symptomatically.

Published 10 October 2005 in Auris Nasus Larynx, 32(4): 375-80.
Full-text of this article is available online (may require subscription).

© 2005-2008 Xerostomia Research Today. All Rights Reserved.