[Clinical feature and pathology of airway disease in Sjögren's syndrome]

Airway disease of Sjögren's syndrome (SjS) has been studied since years ago. Many researchers have thought xerotrachea induced dry cough. Recently it was revealed that there was no xerotrachea but atrophic change and proliferation and growth of blood vessel. Various airway diseases of SjS have been reported, including bronchitis, bronchiolitis and follicular bronchiolitis. Rarely patients may lose their life for them. Patients of SjS without respiratory manifestations often show pulmonary function abnormalities. We compared pulmonary function of SjS and collagen disease without SjS. To our surprise, both of them show obstructive pattern with almost same frequency. Probably it means that obstructive airway diseases are not characteristic for SjS. Recently bronchial hyperresponsiveness in SjS is drawing the attention. Treatment and prognosis of the airway diseases in SjS have been not clarified, so further studies have to be piled up from now on.