[Lesions of the digestive organs in Sjogren's disease]

The clinicofunctional and morphological status of the stomach, biliferous system, pancreas, large and small intestine was studied in 83 patients with Sjogren's syndrome and disease (SS and SD). Chronic gastritis with secretory insufficiency was shown to develop in SD. Morphological changes of the gastric mucosa were represented by chronic gastritis with glandular involvement and chronic atrophic gastritis of immune genesis. Pathology of the extrahepatic system of bilification was detected in 87% of patients. The most common pathologies diagnosed in these patients were chronic cholecystitis (51%) and biliary dyskinesia (25%). Changes of the chemical composition of the bile (arise of its lythogenic properties) were observed. Various disorders of pancreatic function were detected in 85% of SS and SD patients. X-ray and endoscopic investigations revealed duodenal, intestinal and colon hypokinesia, less frequently signs of enteritis and colitis in one-third of the patients. The irritable colon syndrome was found in 40%. On the whole, involvement of different parts of the intestine was observed in 92%. Morphological changes in the duodenal and sigmoid colon mucosa were typical of chronic diffuse duodenitis and sigmoiditis in a subacute SD course, and chronic atrophic duodenitis and sigmoiditis in a chronic SD and SS course.