The Effect of Systemic Corticosteroid Use on the pH and Viscosity of Saliva

Abstract

Background: Systemic corticosteroid use is undeniable for many patients, and many require long-term use of such drugs. Corticosteroids have adverse and irreversible effects on all organs of the body. One of these complications that have not been studied fully is the drug effect on salivary gland function and the quantity and quality of saliva. Some of the many properties of saliva affected by these drugs are saliva pH and viscosity changes and, therefore, its effect on oral health. Methods: This study was performed on 90 cumulative saliva samples containing three groups of corticosteroid users, including more than 15 mg/day, corticosteroid users less than 15 mg/day, and healthy and non-drug users. Each group contained 30 samples. The unstimulated cumulative saliva of volunteers was collected by spitting method for 5 minutes, and the pH of the samples were measured by digital pH meter, and the viscosity of the samples was calculated based on the comparison of the amount of movement of saliva in the capillary tube in millimeter per second with the control fluids. Statistical analysis was performed by Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS V. 18) software and the analysis of variances (ANOVA), Tukey’s multiple comparisons, or their nonparametric equivalents tests were used. Results: The viscosity of saliva in patients with corticosteroid > 15 mg/day was higher than the healthy subjects (P = 0.028). Also, salivary pH in patients taking corticosteroid < 15mg/day was lower than healthy ones (P = 0.017). There was no significant relationship between gender with pH and salivary viscosity (P = 0.933). Conclusions: Long-term consumption of corticosteroids reduces the pH of saliva and increases its viscosity. Therefore Corticosteroids can cause quantitative and qualitative changes in saliva. It also can affect oral and dental health. Hence, the oral health of people taking corticosteroids should be more noticed.

The gut microbiome associated with LGI1- and CASPR2-antibody encephalitis

“…In addition to these observed compositional and functional changes, we found in LGI1/-CASPR2-Ab-E cases there is an enrichment of species that are normally associated with the oral or small intestinal microbiomes. It has been observed that corticosteroids impact saliva quality 49 in a way that could result in accelerated movement of matter though the digestive system, leading to abundance of oral or small intestinal communities. Corticosteroids are a commonly prescribed treatment in of AE 5,6 as early immune therapy and a majority of our patients have been exposed to this treatment ( Table 1 ) - therefore it is a possibility that this observation is driven by treatment and not underlying aetiology.…”

Sialocele and Its Association with Hypercortisolism and Long-Term Glucocorticoid Treatment in Dogs: Retrospective Case–Control Study

“…The use of systemic GC also reduces saliva pH, increases viscosity, and affects salivary electrolyte concentration as well as various enzymes. This leads to quantitative and qualitative changes in saliva, ultimately resulting in a decrease in overall salivary gland function [ 6 , 22 ]. Moreover, changes in the body’s cortisol levels can lead to alterations in salivary cortisol, which is utilized in diagnosing GC-related disorders in human medicine [ 23 , 24 , 25 ].…”

“…Our clinical observations prior to this study revealed that dogs presenting with sialocele often have underlying conditions such as hypercortisolism (HC) or have received long-term glucocorticoid (GC) treatment. Previous human studies have suggested that long-term GC administration affects the chemical characteristics of saliva, such as pH and viscosity, potentially leading to compromised salivary function [ 5 , 6 , 7 ].…”

Significance of non-clinical parameters for the clinical manifestation of non-cavitated carious lesions in children with nephrotic syndrome

“…Кортикостероидите причиняват количествени и качествени промени в слюнката, което намира отражение върху оралноденталното здраве на индивида. Известно е, че рН на слюнката, особено рН на нестимулирана слюнка, се асоциира тясно с буферния й капацитет, както и с риска от отключване и напредване на кариозния процес (9). Антибиотиците, особено тези пригодени за ранната и предучилищната възраст, които се приготвят предимно в сиропообразна (разтворима) консистенция, се отличават с високо съдържание на захари.…”

“…Неравномерната дистрибуция на кариозния процес, клинично манифестирана с некавитирани, кавитирани и усложнени кариозни лезии изисква прецизиране и актуализация на диагностичните и терапевтични концепции на овладяване на деструктивния процес (12). Предвид установения ефект на кортикостероидите върху количествените и качествени характе-ристики на слюнката, пролонгираната системна апликация на кортикостероиди и последващото влошаване на орално-денталния статус и дефинитивнотно му отражение върху качеството на живот на индивидуално и групово ниво сред пациенти в детска възраст, страдащи от нефротичен синдром, е обект на научно изследване (9). Стриктната координация между специалистите, лекуващи общото заболяване, и лекарите по дентална медицина, свързана с регулярни профилактични дентални прегледи и осъществяване на изискуемите терапевтични процедури за подобряване на оралното здраве в условия на ефективен контрол на системния здравословен проблем, е изискуема предпоставка за стабилизиране на състоянието, респ.…”