Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41857438›Full record

SynthesisStem cell reviews and reports2026

Treatment of Xerostomia with Mesenchymal Stem Cells - A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Clinical Trials.

Joachim Hansen, Amanda-Louise Fenger Carlander, Kathrine Kronberg Jakobsen, Josephine Skjoldbirk, Christian Grønhøj, Christian von Buchwald

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Stem cell reviews and reports, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Joachim HansenDepartment of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery and Audiology, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Inge Lehmanns Vej 7, section 7046, Copenhagen, 2100, Denmark. Joachim.hansen.01@regionh.dk.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8395-5037
Amanda-Louise Fenger Carlander
Kathrine Kronberg Jakobsen
Josephine Skjoldbirk
Christian Grønhøj
Christian von Buchwald

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundSalivary hypofunction and xerostomia are major complications for overall quality of life. Two of the most frequent causes of xerostomia are radiotherapy of the head and neck and Sjögren’s disease. An increasing number of clinical human studies suggest that mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapy can ameliorate symptoms of xerostomia. However, a meta-analysis is yet to summarize the results. The primary outcome of this study was unstimulated salivary flow rate (UWS) after treatment with MSCs.

methodsThe MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases were searched for eligible studies. Eligible studies were: clinical studies including patients with salivary hypofunction due to either radiotherapy or Sjogren’s disease who were subsequently treated with MSCs. A meta-analysis was conducted for the included randomized controlled trials. Secondary outcomes include method of administration, number of MSC used, change in patient reported outcomes, development of drug-specific antibodies, and safety.

resultsEight studies were included describing 5 clinical trials. 230 participants were treated, hereof 126 received MSC treatment. In the meta-analysis, an increase in UWS of 0.06 mL/min (95%CI: -0.05 to 0.17) were found. In a subgroup analysis of radiation induced xerostomia, a significant increase in UWS of 0.03 mL/min (95%CI: 0.01 – 0.05) were found. All trials reported improvement in patient reported outcomes. Further, no treatment-related serious adverse events were reported, and few, minor, and temporary adverse events was observed.

conclusionMSC therapy for xerostomia showed a potential but modest benefit in improving salivary gland function. Further, MSC treatment was found to be safe with minor, temporary adverse events.

Indexed as

Mesenchymal Stem CellsMesenchymal Stem Cell TransplantationXerostomiaClinical Trials as TopicHumansQuality of LifeSjogren's SyndromeClinical trialMesenchymal stem cellsMSCRadiationSjögren’s SyndromeXerostomia

Identifiers

PMID41857438
PMCPMC13099713

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.