Oral mycoplasmas in Sjögren's syndrome

Mycoplasmas were sought in the salivary secretions and minor salivary gland tissue of 26 patients with Sjögren's syndrome or the allied sicca complex. A mycoplasma (M. orale type 1) was recovered from the stimulated parotid saliva of only one case. Possible mechanisms of mycoplasmal cell damage in this and allied disorders are considered and some future lines of investigation are suggested.