[Sclerosing cholangitis, chronic pancreatitis and Sjögren's syndrome]

A 63 year old man was followed up for chronic pancreatitis. After 2 years, he developed features of primary sclerosing cholangitis associated with Sjögren's syndrome. A review of the literature revealed 38 previous cases of chronic pancreatitis associated with sclerosing cholangitis; a sicca complex was also demonstrated in 3 of these cases. Chronic pancreatitis is mostly asymptomatic and the diagnosis is usually made at laparotomy or postmortem. Retrograde pancreatograms are abnormal in 15-75 p. 100 of patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis. The relationship between the two diseases is not a coincidence. On the other hand, the significance of the association with the Sjögren's syndrome remains controversial.