Saliva and salivary gland alterations in HIV infection: a review

HIV-1 can be recovered sporadically from whole saliva and individual salivary gland secretions, but the concentration of virus, when present, is low. Saliva possesses antiviral activity, and although virus may be found in the mouth, the mouth is not a transmission route of HIV-1. After HIV-1 infection, salivary gland function is altered. Flow rates may decrease, and certain electrolytes and anti-microbial proteins are elevated. A proportion of patients develop severe salivary gland disease. Most patients, however, maintain adequate salivary gland function and retain ability to produce antimicrobial proteins in saliva.