A PRELIMINARY STUDY ON THE INTERFERON-α TREATMENT FOR XEROSTOMIA OF SJÖGREN'S SYNDROME

Abstract
We studied the therapeutic effect of interferon-α on the xerostomia of Sjögren's syndrome by injecting 1×106 units of interferon-α intramuscularly once weekly. Saliva production was quantitated by the Saxon test. Variation of saliva production measured at monthly intervals during the 3-month period prior to administration of interferon-α was within ±0.30 g/2 min. After administration of interferon-α, saliva production increased to greater than 0.30 g/2 min in six patients, and the increase was statistically significant by the paired t-test (P=0.002). The result suggests a beneficial effect of this agent in increasing the saliva production of patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome.

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