Oral health and saliva thickness in oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy (OPMD)
Saliva Composition in Oculo-Pharyngeal Muscular Dystrophy (OPMD)
This study will see if adults with OPMD have different oral health, thicker saliva, or unique saliva biochemical signs compared with their household members without OPMD.
Quick facts
| Study type | Observational |
|---|---|
| Enrollment | 100 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Sheba Medical Center Government |
| Locations | 1 site (Ramat Gan) |
| Trial ID | NCT07118280 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This is an observational study enrolling OPMD patients from the IsrOPMD registry at the multidisciplinary OPMD service at Sheba Medical Center and their unaffected spouse or household member as controls. Participants undergo a detailed dental and oral mucosa exam (including DMFT index, mucosal dryness, tongue coating, and atrophic papillae) and saliva collection for rheology (viscosity) testing and biochemical marker analysis. Subjects under 18, pregnant individuals, or anyone with conditions known to affect saliva composition are excluded. The goal is to determine whether anecdotal reports of "thick saliva" in OPMD reflect measurable changes and whether saliva contains disease-related biochemical markers.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Adult patients (≥18 years) with OPMD who are followed at Sheba Medical Center’s IsrOPMD registry, along with an unaffected spouse or household member willing to serve as a control, are eligible provided they have no other condition affecting saliva.
Not a fit: People under 18, pregnant individuals, or those with other diseases that alter saliva composition are excluded and would not be expected to benefit from participation in this observational project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify a previously unrecognized symptom and saliva markers that help clinicians manage oral health and swallowing problems in OPMD.
How similar studies have performed: Links between dysphagia and poor oral health have been shown in other neurodegenerative conditions, but direct studies of saliva viscosity and biochemical markers in OPMD are novel and largely untested.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Patients with OPMD and their spouses or household members Exclusion Criteria: * • Pregnancy or presence of any disease that may affect a composition of saliva
Where this trial is running
Ramat Gan
- Sheba Medical Center — Ramat Gan, Israel (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Naama Study coordinator
- Email: opmd@sheba.health.gov.il
- Phone: +972 55 2929006
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.