Oral manifestations of systemic disease

While the majority of disorders of the mouth are centred upon the direct action of plaque, the oral tissues can be subject to change or damage as a consequence of disease that predominantly affects other body systems. Such oral manifestations of systemic disease can be highly variable in both frequency and presentation. As lifespan increases and medical care becomes ever more complex and effective it is likely that the numbers of individuals with oral manifestations of systemic disease will continue to rise. The present article provides a succinct review of oral manifestations of systemic disease. In view of this article being part of a wider BDJ themed issue on the subject of oral medicine, this review focuses upon oral mucosal and salivary gland disorders that may arise as a consequence of systemic disease

Translational Research in Sjögren’s Syndrome

Sjögren’s syndrome (SS) is an autoimmune inflammatory disorder of the exocrine glands, particularly affecting lacrimal and salivary glands. Hallmark symptoms are dry mouth and dry eye, often in conjunction with general symptoms, such as malaise and fatigue. Lymphomas could develop in 5–10% of the patients. As SS is a rather complex syndrome with many features, the one patient being diagnosed with SS may suffer from a different complex of complaints than another SS patient and may thus be in need of a different treatment approach. To better classify SS patients and to personalize their treatment, many clinicians and researchers are currently working on efforts (1) to refine classification of SS patients, (2) to ease the diagnostic work-up of SS, and (3) to better understand the etiopathogenesis of SS. Latter knowledge is essential to understand the course of the disease. This way clinicians will be able to identify patients who are at risk of developing SS or lymphomas; can intervene at an early stage of the disease to prevent damage to, e.g., the glands; as well as can personalize treatment with, e.g., biologicals. In this chapter, current major achievements are discussed, and promising new directions are indicated