[Pulmonary function abnormalities and respiratory manifestations in Sjögren's syndrome]

The respiratory system is the target organ of many autoimmune collagen diseases. In patients with Sjögren's syndrome (SS), the respiratory disorders are also common manifestations. Tracheal and pleural manifestations have been described (Strimlan 1976; Constantopoulos 1985). In the older literature (Shearn 1979), pneumonia and pleurisy were often reported but did not seem to constitute any serious problem. The symptoms are frequent and clinically important. They can present in different ways from dry cough secondary to desiccation of tracheobronchial mucosa (xerotrachea) to dyspnea from airway obstruction or hypersensitivity of trachea. The common respiratory manifestation of SS is small airway disease, and the detection of this involvement requires clinical, roentgenological and respiratory functional tests. In particular, the respiratory functional test is useful for the diagnosis of respiratory disorders in patients with SS.