[Sjögren's syndrome in systemic scleroderma]

Combined investigation of 43 patients with sclerodermia systematica (SSD) was conducted to detect Sjogren's syndrome (SS) and to study SSD association with SS. Four groups of patients were defined: with marked SS (10), primary SS (12), probable SS (13), and without SS manifestations (8). Comparative characterization has shown that SS is detected slightly more frequently in a chronic course of SSD, combines with manifestations of sclerodactyly, telangiectasia, calcinosis, however esophageal hypomobility, indurative skin changes and contractures which are typical of SSD, occur less frequently than in SSD patients without SS. SSD association with SS is characterized by polyarthralgia, arthritis, marked Raynaud's syndrome, the frequency and rather high RF titers, the detection of anti-Ro and anti-La, and a significant rise of the level of circulating immune complexes determined by SS influence. SS manifestations in SSD are retention pains in the parotid glands, signs of clearness on sialograms, periductal sclerosis in the form of rings in morphological investigation of the parotid glands.