Lymphoma in Sjogren's syndrome

Sjogren's syndrome is an autoimmune disease with a known predisposition for lymphoma development. Eight of 120 patients with primary Sjogren's syndrome followed at the University of Ioannina over the past 7 years developed non-Hodgkin's lymphoma diagnosed according to the Kiel classification. The lymphomas differed by location and grading. Six were called low grade (immunocytoma) and two intermediate grade non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. Five of the immunocytomas involved the minor salivary or lacrimal glands. Immunoperoxidase staining for light chains revealed monoclonal populations. Two patients showed spontaneous regression not previously reported in Sjogren's syndrome. Thus, in Sjogren's syndrome, low grade non-Hodgkin's lymphomas and especially immunocytomas are the most common lymphomas. These lymphomas tend to evolve very slowly and may regress spontaneously. Given these facts, a conservative approach to treatment is indicated in those patients with only localized disease.