Start practicing

Pharmacology · patient case question

Each of the following is genuinely associated with xerostomia EXCEPT:

Patient case: The Geriatric Patient

demo: 90-year-old female

chief: “My mouth is always dry and this tooth is throbbing.”

history: Osteoporosis, mild renal impairment, hypertension. Ambulates with a walker.

meds: Alendronate, methotrexate, zoledronate infusions in the past, hydrochlorothiazide

findings: Generalized xerostomia. Tooth #30 with a periapical abscess requiring antibiotic coverage. Panoramic radiograph shows thinned mandibular cortices.

  1. Head and neck radiotherapy
  2. Advancing age by itself
  3. Sjögren syndrome
  4. Anticholinergic medication
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: B. Advancing age by itself

  • A. Radiation to the salivary glands causes serous acinar loss and often permanent hyposalivation.
  • B. Correct — this is the exception. Age alone does not cause clinically significant salivary hypofunction. The apparent association is driven by the medications and comorbidities that accumulate with age.
  • C. Sjögren syndrome is an autoimmune exocrinopathy that directly destroys salivary and lacrimal parenchyma.
  • D. Anticholinergics block muscarinic receptors on salivary acini, reducing secretion.

Practice Pharmacology questions Pharmacology study notes

More Pharmacology practice questions