ABSTRACT
The diagnosis value of various methods used to detect or confirm a Sjögren's syndrome are discussed. The Schirmer's test, generally abnormal, is a good test for detection, although not specific. A subnormal concentration of tears lysozyme is seen in about half of the patients, as so as the presence of anti-salivary ducts antibodies, or significant aspects in lip biopsy. The tests that are most frequently disturbed are the salivary immunoglobulin assay and the fonctionnal study of salivary glands with 99m technetium tracer but they are not specific. These abnormalities are neither constant, not specific: for this reason, there are frequently some problems in the diagnosis or the nosologic definition of Sjögren's syndrome. The occurrence in the same subject of many of these abnormalities makes however this diagnosis highly probable even in patients without functionnal troubles.
Subject(s)
Sjogren's Syndrome/diagnosis , Autoantibodies/analysis , Biopsy , Humans , Immunoglobulins/analysis , Lip/pathology , Muramidase/analysis , Saliva/analysis , Saliva/immunology , Salivary Glands, Minor/immunology , Sjogren's Syndrome/pathology , Tears/analysis , Tears/enzymologyABSTRACT
A Sjögren's syndrom was looked for systematically in 154 hematological patients, half of them with lymphoproliferative disorders, by means of three current diagnosis methods: the Schirmer's test, the tear lysozyme assay, and the salivary immunoglobulin assay. These tests, poorly specific, are frequently abnormal, but the coexistence of the three abnormalities in the same patient makes the diagnosis highly probable. This corresponded to 4 patients. Taking into account the other diagnostic methods, the diagnosis was considered as possible or probable in 7 patients, and certain in 3 of them. This rate of 2% is discussed but the frequency of latent Sjögren's syndrome in hematologic patients and mainly in lymphoproliferative disease cannot be considered as high.
