She is exploring the dental aspects of different autoimmune diseases, especially Sjögren's syndrome and systemic lupus erythematosus. Her first article was recently accepted for publication in the Journal of Dental Research (D1), one of the top dental journals. Ágnes Heizer was honored with the Excellent Student Award by the Centre for Translational Medicine.
Dr. Heizer is a resident at the Department of Preclinical Dentistry at Semmelweis University, and, in addition to her clinical work, she is a second-year Ph.D. student at CTM. In her doctoral research, she is exploring the spectrum of oral disorders in different autoimmune diseases. She receives significant support for her work from her supervisor, Prof. Dr. Krisztina Márton, and her scientific methodology supervisor, Dr. Jimin Lee.
“In our research, which was just accepted, we focused on Sjögren's syndrome. We investigated which oral disorders are more likely to occur in this autoimmune disease. Our results showed that candidiasis, dysphagia, a taste disorder called dysgeusia, and many other oral and mucosal problems occur more frequently in this disease. We also found that patients with Sjögren’s syndrome generally have a higher prevalence of dental caries and have fewer retained teeth. Our research also clarified that this autoimmune disease does not increase the risk of periodontal problems.”
It is important for dentists to be familiar with the dental symptoms associated with Sjögren's syndrome, as this knowledge helps them refer their patients to an immunologist if they suspect this condition. In this way, a diagnosis can be given to the patient as soon as possible. In this way, a diagnosis can be given to the patient as soon as possible. “Diagnosing this condition involves several steps. Dentists are responsible for performing a sialometry test, which measures the amount of saliva produced by the salivary glands, and taking a minor salivary gland biopsy. This allows the examination of histological changes in the salivary glands and the detection of any abnormalities specific to Sjögren’s syndrome.” In their article, the researchers drew attention to the fact that people with this autoimmune disease require much closer dental monitoring. In practice, this means that those affected should visit the dentist every six months. This is crucial for preventing dental complications.
In her second project, Dr. Heizer is investigating the prevalence of oral disorders in systemic lupus (SLE). „This topic is important because oral symptoms are often under-recognized in SLE care. However, patients with this disease are more likely to develop oral lesions, candidiasis, ulcers, cheilitis, dysphagia, xerostomia, gingivitis, and periodontitis. For this reason, it would be important to strengthen collaboration between immunologists and dental specialists during their treatment.”
(Szabó Emese)