Finger-prick Autologous Blood (FAB) for use in Dry Mouth
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Treating Dry Mouth Disease (Xerostomia) with Finger-prick Autologous Blood (FAB)
IRAS ID
228680
Contact name
Anant Sharma
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Bedford Hospital
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
This is a feasibility study that will assess the efficacy of using autologous blood to treat moderate to severe dry mouth. Dry mouth has been estimated to affect up to 64.8% of the general population (Navazesh et al., 2009) and many patients that are affected by Sjögren's syndrome or have had radiation therapy to combat head or neck cancer (Navazesh et al., 2009).
The blood will be applied to the interior of the mouth by means of a mouthwash. This research poses the first potential curative treatment for dry mouth - all other current dry mouth treatments are either symptomatic or lifestyle-based.
Autologous blood has been shown to be effective in treating the epithelial surface of dry eyes. This has been attributed to the analogous growth factors in the blood to that of tears - and potentially in this case, saliva - in healing the oral epithelial surface (Herbst et al., 2004).
1. Navazesh M, Kumar SK. Xerostomia: prevalence, diagnosis, and management. Compend Contin Educ Dent 2009;30(6):326-8, 31-2; quiz 33-4.
2. Herbst RS. Review of epidermal growth factor receptor biology. International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, Physics 2004;59(2 Suppl):21-6.REC name
East of England - Cambridge East Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
18/EE/0357
Date of REC Opinion
28 Jul 2019
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion