Saliva in Prader–Willi syndrome: Quantitative and qualitative characteristics

Abstract Objective To evaluate salivary flow rates and assess whole salivary total protein, MUC7 and cystatin in individuals with Prader–Willi syndrome (PWS) compared with healthy controls. Design The participants were forty-eight individuals with PWS (mean age 20.2 ± 9.5) and an age- and sex-matched control group. Flow rates of unstimulated whole saliva (UWS), stimulated whole saliva (SWS), submandibular/sublingual (SS), and parotid saliva (PS) were recorded (ml/min) and unstimulated whole saliva used for further protein analysis. Total protein concentration was determined via the bicinchoninic acid method, and MUC7 and cystatin levels via a Dot Blot. Results Mean UWS (0.12 ± 0.11 vs. 0.32 ± 0.20, p p p p p Conclusion With the exception of parotid saliva, salivary flow rates were lower among individuals with PWS than in their matched controls. Saliva protein concentrations in UWS were high compared with the healthy group, although the protein output did not differ significantly.