THE EVALUATION OF LUNG INVOLVEMENT AND FUNCTIONAL CAPACITIES IN PATİENTS
DİAGNOSED WITH PRIMARY SJOGREN’S SYNDROME
Abstract
ABSTRACT Introduction: Sjögren syndrome is a chronic, systemic,
inflammatory disease characterized with lymphocytic infiltration of the
exocrine glands, frequently manifested by dryness in the region
affected. Although the most common extraglandular involvement in SS is
pulmonary involvement. Early diagnosis and treatment is considered to be
important. It was aimed to evaluate the frequency of early lung
involvement, high resolution computed tomography (HRCT) findings and
data of pulmonary function test (PFT) in SS in this study.
Material-Method: Thirty five patients diagnosed with SS and referred by
the Department of Rheumatology to determine potential lung involvement
to the 8th chest diseases outpatient clinic of our hospital between
September 2015 and December 2018 were included in this study.
Respiratory signs, demographic features, length of disease and treatment
regimens, PFT, data of 6-minute walk test (MWT) and findings of HRCT of
the patients were retrospectively obtained from hospital information
system and patient files. Results: The mean age of the patients was 54.4
± 9.2. The majority of the patients were women (94.3%). When the HRCT
findings were evaluated, 28 (80%) patients had CT findings, while 7
(20%) patients had no CT findings. The most common HRCT findings found
in patients were peribronchial thickening (48.6 %), ground glass
appearance (28.6%) and prominence in interstitial scars. Conclusion: We
think that the evaluation of HRCT and PFTs in patients diagnosed with SS
for assessing early pulmonary involvement will be guiding in terms of
follow-up and treatment.