The efficacy of cevimeline hydrochloride in the treatment of xerostomia in Sjögren's syndrome in southern Chinese patients: a randomised double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study.

Abstract

Cevimeline hydrochloride, a specific agonist of the M3 muscarinic receptor, is beneficial in the treatment of symptoms of xerostomia and xerophthalmia associated with Sjögren's syndrome (SS). Cevimeline has not been evaluated in southern Chinese patients. Furthermore, the effects of cevimeline on health-related quality of life and oral health status are not known. In this randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study, patients received cevimeline 30 mg or matched placebo three times per day over 10 weeks followed by a 4-week washout period before treatment crossover. Participants self-completed the following questionnaires: Xerostomia Inventory (XI), the General Oral Health Assessment Index (GOHAI), the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) and the Medical Outcomes Short Form (SF-36). Clinical assessments included sialometry, examination of the oral cavity for the degree of xerostomia and dental complications of xerostomia. Fifty patients (22 primary SS and 28 secondary SS) were enrolled in the trial. Forty-four patients completed the study. There was a significant improvement in the XI and GOHAI scores as well as the objective rating of xerostomic signs of the oral cavity after treatment with cevimeline. However, there was no improvement in salivary flow rates and dry eye symptoms. SS patients had lower SF-36 scores, but these did not improve after treatment with cevimeline.

• Authors: K C M Leung, A S McMillan, M C M Wong, W K Leung, M Y Mok, C S Lau
• Journal: Clinical rheumatology (Clin Rheumatol) Vol. 27 Issue 4 Pg. 429-36 (Apr 2008) ISSN: 0770-3198 [Print] Germany
• PMID: 17899308 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial)

Chemical References

• Muscarinic Agonists
• Quinuclidines
• Thiophenes
• cevimeline

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• China
• Cross-Over Studies
• Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
• Double-Blind Method
• Health Surveys
• Humans
• Middle Aged
• Muscarinic Agonists (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Oral Health
• Patient Satisfaction
• Quality of Life
• Quinuclidines (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Severity of Illness Index
• Sjogren's Syndrome (complications, ethnology)
• Thiophenes (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Xerostomia (drug therapy, ethnology, etiology)