Types of atrophic gastritis in patients with primary Sjogren's syndrome

Article Abstract:

Sjogren's syndrome (SS) is a condition that affects the salivary glands and lacrimal glands (glands that make tears), reduces the production of saliva and tears, and causes mucous membranes to become dry. It is seen in postmenopausal women, and is often associated with rheumatoid arthritis, dental caries and Raynaud's phenomenon (a condition that affects blood vessels in the hands and feet). Many people who develop SS also develop some form of gastritis (inflammation of the mucous membranes that line the stomach). Previous studies have indicated that chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG) occurs in more than 65 percent of patients with SS. It is believed that the incidence of CAG increases with age. To investigate the relationship between SS and CAG, 104 subjects without SS (controls) and 44 female patients with SS were examined. Thirty-eight of the patients had abdominal pain and six had either weight loss, loss of appetite or anemia. Twenty-one of the patients were taking anti-inflammatory drugs or corticosteroids. Biopsy samples were taken from three different regions of the stomach (the antrum, the corpus, and the region between the antrum and corpus) and examined for the presence of CAG. The incidence of CAG was substantially higher in patients with SS than in those who did not have SS. Fifty percent of the patients with SS had CAG in the antrum and in the region between the antrum and corpus, while 40 percent had CAG in the corpus region of the stomach. Patients with SS and CAG had less acid in their stomachs than subjects who did not have SS and CAG (several types of atrophic gastritis are associated with reduced stomach acid secretion). It is concluded that CAG is more common in patients with SS than in the general population, and that its occurrence varies with age. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Autoimmune diseases, Gastritis

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Auricular chondritis and diffuse proliferative glomerulonephritis in primary Sjogren's syndrome

Article Abstract:

Primary Sjogren's syndrome is an autoimmune disorder; these disorders occur when the immune system attacks natural body tissues and substances. The syndrome affects women after menopause and is characterized by xerostomia (dry mouth), rheumatoid arthritis, and dry eyes with possible loss of vision. Research has recently found that Sjogren's syndrome can also have adverse effects on the central nervous system and the blood vessels. A case is described of a 48-year-old woman with Sjogren's syndrome who developed auricular chondritis, or inflammation of the cartilage of the ears. Microscopic examination showed characteristics of relapsing polychondritis, which is the inflammation of cartilage tissue at several sites including the ears, nose, joints, bronchi, and trachea. The patient also had diffuse proliferative glomerulonephritis or inflammation of the kidney, resulting in rapid deterioration of kidney function. She was treated with the corticosteroid prednisone, and at one-year follow-up, showed improvement in kidney function and no inflammation or deformity of the ear. This case is unusual because of the simultaneous occurrence of both ear chondritis and diffuse proliferative glomerulonephritis in a patient with Sjogren's syndrome. It demonstrates that Sjogren's syndrome can affect many body systems, including some that were not previously thought to be vulnerable to this disease. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Cartilage, Glomerulonephritis

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Cardiac manifestations in primary Sjogren's syndrome

Article Abstract:

It appears that among patients with definite primary Sjogren's syndrome (DSS) or probable SS (PSS) many have silent and symptom-free heart conditions. Doctors evaluated echocardiograms and pressure measurements of 54 patients with DSS, 10 patients with PSS and 21 healthy volunteers (the control group). The pericardium, or sac that surrounds the heart, was thickened in 33% of the 64 study patients and none of the control group. Study patients had higher calculated lung pressure values and lower diastolic blood pressure measurements than the control group.

Heart diseases

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