Characterization and pathogenic speculation of xerostomia associated with COVID-19: a narrative review

H Tsuchiya - Dentistry journal, 2021 - mdpi.com
H Tsuchiya
Dentistry journal, 2021mdpi.com
Patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have become known to present with
different oral symptoms. However, xerostomia remains poorly recognized compared with
taste dysfunction. For better understanding of COVID-19 symptomatology, xerostomia
associated withCOVID-19 was characterized and its possible pathogenesis was speculated
by a narrative literature review. Scientific articles were retrieved by searching PubMed,
LitCovid, ProQuest, Google Scholar, medRxiv and bioRxiv from 1 April 2020 with a cutoff …
Patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have become known to present with different oral symptoms. However, xerostomia remains poorly recognized compared with taste dysfunction. For better understanding of COVID-19 symptomatology, xerostomia associated withCOVID-19 was characterized and its possible pathogenesis was speculated by a narrative literature review. Scientific articles were retrieved by searching PubMed, LitCovid, ProQuest, Google Scholar, medRxiv and bioRxiv from 1 April 2020 with a cutoff date of 30 September 2021. Results of the literature search indicated that xerostomia is one of prevalent and persistent oral symptoms associated with COVID-19. In contrast to taste dysfunction, the prevalence and persistence of xerostomia do not necessarily depend on ethnicity, age, gender and disease severity of patients. COVID-19 xerostomia is pathogenically related to viral cellular entry-relevant protein expression, renin-angiotensin system disturbance, salivary gland inflammation, zinc deficiency, cranial neuropathy, intercurrent taste dysfunction, comorbidities and medications. Despite a close association with COVID-19, xerostomia, dry mouth and hyposalivation tend to be overlooked unlike ageusia, dysgeusia and hypogeusia. Although mouth dryness per se is not life-threating, it has an impact on the oral health-related quality of life. More attention should be paid to xerostomia in COVID-19 patients and survivors.
MDPI