Hyposalivation
Pronunciation: hy-poh-sal-ih-VAY-shun
An objectively measured reduction in salivary flow rate, typically defined as an unstimulated whole salivary flow of less than 0.1 mL/min.
Full Definition
Hyposalivation is a clinical finding confirmed by sialometry and is distinguished from the subjective complaint of xerostomia. It may result from salivary gland disease, radiation damage, dehydration, or medication side effects. Editors working on oral medicine manuscripts must ensure that authors do not conflate this objective measure with the patient-reported symptom of dry mouth. The threshold values may vary slightly by clinical guideline, so editors should preserve whichever reference value the author cites. Hyposalivation is not synonymous with Sjögren's syndrome, though it is a hallmark feature.
Usage
Usage note: Always confirm whether the manuscript is discussing a subjective complaint (xerostomia) or a measured value (hyposalivation) before editing for consistency.
In Context
- "Sialometry confirmed hyposalivation with an unstimulated flow rate of 0.05 mL/min." — Diagnostic report
- "The study differentiated between patients with xerostomia alone and those with confirmed hyposalivation." — Research article