Salivary changes in patients with end-stage renal disease undergoing hemodialysis

Oral manifestations are observed in patients with chronic renal failure (CRF), with implications for oral health care. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate salivary flow rate and buffer capacity salivary changes in patients with end-stage chronic renal failure undergoing hemodialysis. Methods: Thirty patients (39.43±12.32 years old) undergoing hemodialysis for renal insufficiency were selected for salivary tests (CRF group). The mean time of hemodialysis treatment was 31.9±30.2 months. Unstimulated and stimulated whole saliva were collected, then flow rate and buffer capacity were determined. Thirty healthy (37.43±13.17 years old) volunteers were included as control group. All examined patients were male. Groups were compared using Student t test and Pearson's Correlation (p=0.05). Results: Expressed as mean±SD, stimulated salivary flow rate (ml/min) was normal and did not show any significant difference (p=0.634) between control (1.51±0.79) and CRF (1.41±0.83) groups, and none of them showed hypossalivation. Buffer capacity of unstimulated and stimulated whole saliva were considered good for both groups, and there was no significant difference between control (1.51+0.79ml/min) and CRF groups (1.41+0.83 ml/min) (p= .634). CRF group (0.47±0.43) showed lower (p=0.036) unstimulated salivary flow rate than control group (0.69±0.35). CRF group has positive correlation between unstimulation and stimulation saliva, buffer capacity and both saliva flow, and negative correlation between age and flow/buffer capacity. Conclusions: Lower unstimulated saliva flow rate at CRF group let us to conclude that it is correlated to lower water intake and the dialysis treatment, increasing risks to this group, and let us to integrate dental service needs with emphasis in preventive treatment.