RADIOISOTOPIC EVALUATION OF SALIVARY GLAND DYSFUNCTION IN SJÖGREN’S SYNDROME

The capability of the salivary glands to selectively concentrate elements of Periodic Group VII and secrete them in saliva was utilized to assess salivary gland function in 28 patients with Sjögren’s syndrome by means of radioisotopic studies following the intravenous administration of Tc^99m pertechnetate. The findings were compared with those obtained in 10 normal controls.

Scintiscans and direct counts over parotid glands showed lower uptake in patients than in controls. The counts were similar over both parotid glands in all controls, while there was significant difference of uptake between the two glands in many patients. Ratios of thyroid/parotid uptake were thus higher in most patients than in controls.

Concentration of the isotope in saliva diminished from the 15 to the 60 minute postinjection samples in all normal controls, while it increased in all but 3 of the patients. All three had extreme xerostomia and low salivary gland uptake.

Repeat studies in 5 patients revealed changing patterns of dysfunction and gland involvement which occurred either spontaneously or under corticosteroid treatment.

Abnormalities in salivary gland function could be detected by these studies in patients with Sjögren’s syndrome without clinical xerostomia.

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