Clinical and Experimental Studies in Primary Sjogren's Syndrome

Abstract

This investigation was performed in an attempt to further elucidate some aspects of the symptomatology and pathophysiology in primary Sjogren’s syndrome (pSS). The majority of the pSS patients in this study reported subjective respiratory symptoms. Sixty per cent of the patients fulfilled criteria for bronchial hyperresponsiveness; 29% had small airway disease and another 29% had diffuse interstitial lung disease. Obstructive lung function impairment was present in 19%. Local lymphocyte activation in the lower respiratory tract was found in both patients and controls, supporting the view that local lymphocyte activation at the mucosal borders of the lungs reflects immune surveillance rather than a pathogenetic process. According to responses in a standardized sleep questionnaire, the calculated sleep deficit was considerably higher in patients with pSS than in controls, partly due to difficulties in both initiating and maintaining sleep. Polysomnography revealed sleep disturbances. These disturbances in patients with pSS may contribute to the daytime fatigue associated with this disorder. Patients with pSS showed prolonged opsonic activity of