Author/Editor		Rode, Mirela; Šmid, Lojze; Budihna, Marjan; Gašperšič, Dominik; Rode, Matjaž; Šoba, Erika
Title		The influence of pilocarpine and biperiden on pH value and calcium, phosphate, and bicarbonate concentrations in saliva during and after radiotherapy for head and neck cancer
Type		članek
Source		Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod
Vol. and No.		Letnik 92
Publication year		2001
Volume		str. 509-14
Language		eng
Abstract		Objective. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the influence of parasympathomimetic pilocarpine and anticholinergic biperiden on salivation, pH value, and calcium, phosphate, and bicarbonate concentrations in saliva in patients irradiated for malignant tumors of the head and neck region. Study design. Sixty-nine patients were randomly assigned into 3 groups. Group A consisted of patients receiving pilocarpine, group B of those who were receiving biperiden during radiotherapy and pilocarpine for 6 weeks after its completion, and group C comprised patients receiving neither of the mentioned drugs. The quantity of secreted unstimulated saliva, its pH value, as well as calcium, phosphate, and bicarbonate concentrations in saliva were measured before the beginning oi radiutherapy, after 30 Gy of irradiation, at completed irradiation, and 3, 6, and 12 months after completion of radiotherapy. Results. Saliva secretion was found to be the least affected in the group of patients receiving biperidene throughout the course of radiotherapy. One year after completion of therapy, the quantity of secreted saliva could only be measured in the patientž receiving biperiden during radiotherapy; it amounted to 16% of the average initial quantity of saliva secreted before the beginning of irradiation. In all 3 groups of patients, mean pH value decreased during radiotherapy and started to increase again aiter completion of irradiation. In group B the decrease in pH value after radiotherapy was statistically significantly smaller than that in group C (P= .01). During and after irradiation, calcium concentration was increased in all 3 groups of patients. Phosphate concentration decreased during radiotherapy in all 3 groups. In group B it started to increase again 3 months after completion of radiotherapy. (Abstract truncated at 2000 characters).
Descriptors		HEAD AND NECK NEOPLASMS SALIVA SALIVATION CALCIUM PHOSPHATES BICARBONATES PILOCARPINE BIPERIDEN HYDROGEN-ION CONCENTRATION