Risk factors for lung involvements in patients with Sjögren's syndrome

Abstract

Background: Pulmonary manifestations are among the most prevalent extra glandular complications in patients with Sjogren9s syndrome (SS). The aim of this study was to investigate risk factors for lung involvements. Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study of patients with SS who visited our institutions from April 2008 to December 2015. Findings from high resolution computed tomography (HRCT) were recorded based on the following features: (A) Features suggestive of airway diseases; (B) Features suggestive of lymphoproliferative disorders; (C) Features suggestive of interstitial lung diseases; (D) Other. Results: The SS study cohort included 374 subjects. Two hundred and fourteen (101 patients with primary SS (pSS) and 113 patients with secondary SS (sSS)) of 374 patients with HRCT examinations were enrolled in the analysis of the present study. Higher age and the presence of antinuclear antibody were risk factors for the presence of abnormalities on HRCT in both pSS and sSS patients. Higher focus score in a labial gland biopsy (≥4) was associated with airway diseases and interstitial lung diseases in patients with pSS. Higher age was associated with any kinds of pulmonary diseases in both pSS and sSS patients. The presence of antinuclear antibody was associated with lymphoproliferative lung disorders in pSS and sSS patients and airway diseases in sSS patients. In patients with pSS, the presence of anti-human T-lymphotropic virus type I antibody was significantly more common in patients with airway diseases compared in those without. Conclusions: The present findings may allow the clinician to identify patients with increased risk of lung involvements in SS patients.