Objective To evaluate the saliva ferning test (SFT) as diagnostic test for xerostomia in patients with Sjogren’s Syndrome (SS). Methods In this study, dried samples of freshly produced saliva from 78 patients with es...Objective To evaluate the saliva ferning test (SFT) as diagnostic test for xerostomia in patients with Sjogren’s Syndrome (SS). Methods In this study, dried samples of freshly produced saliva from 78 patients with established SS according to European Community criteria and 80 healthy controls were examined by light microscopy. The crystallization was classified into 4 types according to the ferning phenomenon: uniformity, branching, spreading and integrity (type I normal and type Ⅱ,Ⅲ,Ⅳ abnormal ). Then, the 78 patients underwent lebial salivary gland biopsy. According to Tarpley’s classifica- tion, minor salivary gland biopsy (≥2 + ) was considered to be positive . Results 1. The sensitivity of SFT was high (70/ 78 = 89. 74% ). And the specificity wes also high (67/80 = 83. 75% ). 2. Abnormal SFT was observed in 70/78 (89. 74% ) samples from patients group and in 13 /80 (16. 25% ) samples from healthy controls. The differences of SFT in patients group versus controls were statistically significant (P< 0. 01 ). 3. The sensitivity of SFT and mini labial gland biopsy had no significant differences (P > 0. 05) as diagnostic tests in SS. Conclusion SFT was simple, sensitive and specific as diagnostic test in SS suspect patients just as mini labial gland biopsy.展开更多
文摘Objective To evaluate the saliva ferning test (SFT) as diagnostic test for xerostomia in patients with Sjogren’s Syndrome (SS). Methods In this study, dried samples of freshly produced saliva from 78 patients with established SS according to European Community criteria and 80 healthy controls were examined by light microscopy. The crystallization was classified into 4 types according to the ferning phenomenon: uniformity, branching, spreading and integrity (type I normal and type Ⅱ,Ⅲ,Ⅳ abnormal ). Then, the 78 patients underwent lebial salivary gland biopsy. According to Tarpley’s classifica- tion, minor salivary gland biopsy (≥2 + ) was considered to be positive . Results 1. The sensitivity of SFT was high (70/ 78 = 89. 74% ). And the specificity wes also high (67/80 = 83. 75% ). 2. Abnormal SFT was observed in 70/78 (89. 74% ) samples from patients group and in 13 /80 (16. 25% ) samples from healthy controls. The differences of SFT in patients group versus controls were statistically significant (P< 0. 01 ). 3. The sensitivity of SFT and mini labial gland biopsy had no significant differences (P > 0. 05) as diagnostic tests in SS. Conclusion SFT was simple, sensitive and specific as diagnostic test in SS suspect patients just as mini labial gland biopsy.
