Elevated blood pressure is not related to saliva flow in patients with Sjögren's syndrome

Objective. The purpose of this study was to determine whether systolic and diastolic blood pressures are associated with salivary flow, dry mouth, or dry eye symptoms in patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome as compared with xerostomic control subjects. Study design. One hundred forty consecutive patients seen at the Sjögren's Syndrome Clinic were categorized retrospectively with various classification schemes: (1) subjective dry mouth; (2) subjective dry eye; (3) European criteria; and (4) international criteria. Data collection included age, gender, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, salivary flow rate, focus score, Schirmer's test, and laboratory findings, including antinuclear antibodies, anti-SSA, anti-SSB, IgG, IgA, IgM, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and rheumatoid factor. Results. No meaningful associations of salivary flow rates with systolic or diastolic blood pressures were found in patients with Sjögren's syndrome or in xerostomic control subjects. An inverse correlation was seen between salivary flow and elevated diastolic blood pressure in xerostomic control subjects only. Conclusion. Elevated blood pressure was not related to saliva flow in patients with Sjögren's syndrome.