Lysozyme determination in parotid saliva from patients with Sjögren's syndrome

Lysozyme and total protein concentrations in parotid saliva were measured in 17 patients with primary Sjogren's syndrome, in six patients with Sjogren's syndrome secondary to hyperlipoproteinemia and in 14 age- and sex-matched healthy control subjects. Increased lysozyme concentrations were found only in patients with primary Sjogren's syndrome and correlated well with the presence of parotid gland enlargement. The total protein concentration in the saliva of patients with Sjogren's syndrome was not different from that of the control subjects. Parotid saliva lysozyme determination may be useful as an early adjunctive diagnostic test of primary Sjogren's syndrome.