Sjogren's syndrome in chronic hepatitis C: Clinical features and diagnosis

Aim. To examine clinical features of Sjogren's syndrome (SS) and morphological picture of the lesser salivary glands (LSG) in chronic hepatitis C (CHC). Material and methods. The examination of 42 patients with SS and chronic HCV infection (mean age 44.3 +/- 13.7 years) has detected signs of chronic hepatitis and hepatic cirrhosis, respectively, in 31 (71.4%) and 11 (26.2%) patients. "Dry syndrome" was diagnosed by criteria of European SS Study Group. LSG biopsy of the lower lip was conducted in 23 (54.7%) of 42 patients. Results. The "dry" syndrome in CHC ran subclinically in 73.8% patients, Apparent symptoms of SS were seen primarily in middle-aged and aged women with CHC history over 10 years. The first signs of SS occurred in 25 (59.5%) patients 2.9 +/- 3.1 years prior to diagnosis of hepatic disease. All the patients had xerostomy. Xerophthalmia was recorded 1.5 times less frequently. In 16 (47.1%) patients with CHC "dry eye" and in 6 (17.6%) patients dry keratoconjunctivitis were detected. Pathohistological changes of LSG were diagnosed in 21 (91.3%) of 23 patients with CHC. In the majority of cases (86.9%) the glands exhibited insignificant inflammatory infiltration and advanced fibrosis. LSG in CHC is characterized by fibrosis prevalence over cell infiltration. 83.3% CHC patients had SS and other extrahepatic lesions. SS was most evident in 28.6% CHC patients with cryoglobulinemia. Conclusion. Registration of SS symptoms in CHC patients depends on targeted examination of patients with chronic HCV infection. The severity of the symptoms correlates directly with the infection duration and age of the patient. LSG lesions in CHC patients with SS are characterized by fibrosis predomination over cell infiltration.