Conjunctival biopsy in Sjögren's syndrome: correlations between histological and immunohistochemical features

We have examined conjunctival biopsies from nine primary and two secondary cases of Sjögren's syndrome. In all cases histopathological examination revealed metaplasia of the conjunctival epithelium associated with a reduced number of goblet cells and a polymorphic inflammatory cell infiltrate of the stroma. Using monoclonal antibodies with texture analysis of stained preparations we have shown that in all cases the lymphocytic infiltrate was predominantly T-cell but with substantial numbers of IgA and IgG secretory B-cells in three cases. The number of Langerhans cells present was reduced in biopsies showing the most marked degree of epithelial metaplasia.