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Eastman Dental Institute

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Sjogren's medical device study (SALRISE)

Professor Stefano Fedele

Sjogren’s syndrome is a debilitating, chronic autoimmune disorder causing persistent dry mouth and dry eyes symptoms, as well as fatigue and joint pain. It is the UK’s second most common rheumatic disease. The constant gritty, sandpaper-like sensation that patients have in their mouths has a notable negative impact upon their ability to speak, chew 

This project, entitled SALRISE, is taking place in conjunction with specialists from eight UK hospitals and will trial a novel treatment which uses electrosimulation to increase saliva production. 

An earlier feasibility study suggested that there is potential benefit to patients using a removable device which is applied into the mouth and delivers subtle electric stimuli to the nerves controlling salivation.

It aims to recruit 130 participants with primary Sjogren’s syndrome who will use the experimental treatment or placebo for 12 months.

Funded by the BRC and Arthritis Research UK.

Activities

Recruitment of over 130 participants has taken place across multiple sites; however this was paused in March 2020 due to Covid-19 restrictions.