Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca and Sjögren's Syndrome

Abstract

Interest in keratoconjunctivitis sicca, which is an inflammation of the cornea and conjunctiva associated with dryness, was limited primarily to ophthalmologists until 1933 when Sjogren 1 reported finding stomorhinopharyngolaryngitis sicca, enlargement of the salivary glands, and arthritis in patients with keratoconjunctivitis sicca. The association of these conditions with keratoconjunctivitis sicca since then has been designated as Sjogren's syndrome. This study was undertaken to investigate the relationship of other clinical conditions to keratoconjunctivitis sicca and Sjogren's syndrome and to determine the occurrence of various protein and hematologic abnormalities in both conditions. We also wished to determine the incidence of the various manifestations of Sjogren's syndrome among patients with keratoconjunctivitis sicca and to study the course and prognosis of both conditions. Materials and Methods The records of 248 patients with keratoconjunctivitis sicca observed at the Mayo Clinic from 1950 through 1956 were reviewed. Each patient was examined by an ophthalmologist, and keratoconjunctivitis