From the Guidelines
Yes, sialostasis is a medical term that refers to the stagnation or reduced flow of saliva in the salivary glands or ducts. This condition can lead to salivary gland swelling, discomfort, and potentially infection. Sialostasis commonly occurs due to dehydration, certain medications (particularly anticholinergics, antidepressants, antihistamines, and some blood pressure medications), salivary stones (sialoliths), or as a symptom of conditions like Sjögren's syndrome 1. Management typically involves:
- increasing fluid intake
- using salivary stimulants like sugar-free candies or gum
- applying warm compresses to the affected area
- gently massaging the salivary gland In persistent cases, a healthcare provider may prescribe medications like pilocarpine or cevimeline to stimulate saliva production, as recommended by the EULAR guidelines for the management of Sjögren's syndrome 1. Sialostasis is important to address promptly as prolonged saliva stagnation can lead to bacterial growth and subsequent sialadenitis (salivary gland inflammation). The therapeutic approach to oral dryness should be driven by the baseline measurement of salivary glandular function, and not by the patient’s subjective feelings, since environmental and personal stressing factors may influence the subjective feeling of dryness, which often does not match with the objective measurement of glandular function 1. Baseline evaluation of salivary gland function is recommended before starting treatment for oral dryness, and the measurement of whole salivary flows can be used to initiate the therapeutic approach to oral dryness based on two mechanisms: salivary gland stimulation (non-pharmacological or pharmacological) or saliva substitution 1.
From the Research
Definition and Terminology
- The term "sialostasis" is not found in the provided studies 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
- However, terms such as "sialadenosis" and "sialosis" are mentioned, which refer to a chronic, noninflammatory, nonneoplastic, bilateral enlargement of the salivary glands 2, 5, 6.
Related Conditions
- Sialadenosis is often associated with underlying disease processes, such as autonomic neuropathy 2, 6.
- Other conditions, such as sialolithiasis, are also related to salivary gland dysfunction 3.
- Radiation-induced xerostomia is another condition that affects the salivary glands 4.
Studies and Findings
- The provided studies focus on various aspects of salivary gland diseases, including management options for sialadenosis 2, sialolithiasis 3, and the use of pilocarpine as a sialagogue in patients with radiation-induced xerostomia 4.
- The studies also discuss the clinicopathological features and management of sialadenosis 5, 6.