[Influence on patients with Sjögren's syndrome after the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake]

We investigated the influence of clinical findings on patients with Sjögren's syndrome after the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake. Fifty eight (90%) of 64 patients were struck severely by the earthquake and 26 patients (42%) were forced to take refuge in emergency shelters. There was no aggravation of clinical findings or complications in eight patients inhabiting the area where the damage was mild. Dry eyes were deteriorated in 14 patients (22%). Dry mouth was aggravated in 6 patients (9%). However, the mean values of Schirmer's test and gum test were not different between pre-earthquake and postearthquake in these patients. Malaise was worsen in 8 patients (13%). The cause was cease of taking prednisolone for autoimmune hepatitis in 2 patients or was impossibility of taking T4 drug for hypothyroidism in 2 patients. Other 4 patients had not taken any medication. Arthralgia was deteriorated in 4 patients (5%). These findings indicated that deterioration of sicca symptoms, arthralgia and malaise was caused predominantly by the worsen living condition including shortage of water and polluted atmosphere in the affected regions.