Iatrogenic causes of salivary gland dysfunction

Journal Article · Sun Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1987 · J. Dent. Res.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1177/00220345870660S213· OSTI ID:6122265

Schubert, M M; Izutsu, K T

Saliva is important for maintaining oral health and function. There are instances when medical therapy is intended to decrease salivary flow, such as during general anesthesia, but most instances of iatrogenic salivary gland dysfunction represent untoward or unavoidable side-effects. The clinical expression of the salivary dysfunction can range from very minor transient alteration in saliva flow to a total loss of salivary function. The most common forms of therapy that interfere with salivation are drug therapies, cancer therapies (radiation or chemotherapy), and surgical therapy. These therapies can affect salivation by a number of different mechanisms that include: disruption of autonomic nerve function related to salivation, interference with acinar or ductal cell functions related to salivation, cytotoxicity, indirect effects (vasoconstriction/dilation, fluid and electrolyte balance, etc.), and physical trauma to salivary glands and nerves. A wide variety of drugs is capable of increasing or decreasing salivary flow by mimicking autonomic nervous system actions or by directly acting on cellular processes necessary for salivation: drugs can also indirectly affect salivation by altering fluid and electrolyte balance or by affecting blood flow to the glands. Ionizing radiation can cause permanent damage to salivary glands, damage that is manifest as acinar cell destruction with subsequent atrophy and fibrosis of the glands. Cancer chemotherapy can cause changes in salivation, but the changes are usually much less severe and only transient. Finally, surgical and traumatic injuries interfere with salivation because of either disruption of gland innervation or gross physical damage (or removal) of glandular tissue (including ducts).

• Research Organization: Univ. of Washington, Seattle
• OSTI ID: 6122265
• Journal Information: J. Dent. Res.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Dent. Res.; (United States); ISSN JDREA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ANIMAL TISSUES
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
BODY
BODY FLUIDS
BONE MARROW
CHEMOTHERAPY
DISEASES
GLANDS
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INJURIES
IONIZING RADIATIONS
MATERIALS
MEDICINE
NEOPLASMS
NUCLEAR MEDICINE
ORGANS
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIATIONS
RADIOLOGY
RADIOTHERAPY
SALIVA
SALIVARY GLANDS
SIDE EFFECTS
THERAPY
TISSUES