[Sialochemical studies in Sjögren disease]

The concentrations of sodium, potassium, calcium, protein and lactoferrin and the enzymatic activity of salivary kallikrein, phosphohexoisomerase, alpha-amylase, lysozyme and IgA were measured in the parotid saliva of 12 patients suffering from Sjögren's syndrome. Compared with a control group (n = 31) remarkable differences were found in the composition of the parotid saliva in Sjögren patients. The possible reasons for these sialochemical alterations are discussed.