Bronchial inflammation, respiratory symptoms and lung function in Primary Sjögren's syndrome.

INTRODUCTION: There is no information available regarding the relationship between the respiratory symptoms or lung function and bronchial inflammation, measured by induced sputum.

OBJECTIVES: Description of the clinical characteristics, radiographic images and lung function of patients suffering from Primary Sjögren Syndrome (PSS), and to assess the relationship with the inflammatory airway profile.

METHODS: We analysed clinical, radiology, lung function tests, bronchial hyperresponsiveness and inflammatory data in the induced sputum from 36 consecutive patients with PSS.

RESULTS: A total of 58% of patients had hoarseness and 42% had cough and dispnea. No lung dysfunction was observed, although 46% (n=16) had a positive bronchial response. Lymphocytosis >2.6% in induced sputum was observed in 69% of all sputa. There was chronic cough in 29% of patients with lymphocytosis (n=24), whereas 73% were normal (n=11) (P=.02). The duration time of cough was less for the former (P=.02). On the contrary a positive bronchial response was associated with lymphocytosis >2.6% (P=.02). Lipophages were present in 55% of pathological sputa (n=22) (index >15) versus 18% of the non-pathological ones (n=11) (P=.05).

CONCLUSION: Hoarseness, cough and dyspnea are frequent respiratory symptoms in PSS, although there is a wide variation in the relationship with bronchial responsiveness and airway inflammation. Lymphocytosis in the airways is another site of the infiltrative process in PSS, and the induced sputum is a complementary tool in the identification of active inflammatory process.