USUAL INTERSTITIAL PNEUMONIA ASSOCIATED WITH PRIMARY SJOGRENS-SYNDROME

We describe the first case, to our knowledge, of usual interstitial pn eumonia (UIP) as the pulmonary manifestation in primary Sjogren's synd rome (SjS). A 45-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital because o f a dry cough and an interstitial shadow on a chest roentgenogram. Lab ial biopsy and sialogram confirmed a diagnosis of SjS. BAL fluid analy sis revealed lymphocytosis with a decreased CD4/CD8 ratio compatible w ith bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia or lymphoid intersti tial pneumonia. Open-lung biopsy specimen, however, showed evidence of UIP. Open-lung biopsy was a useful and necessary examination to deter mine the nature of the pulmonary complication in primary SjS. Conserva tive treatment without corticosteroids maintained a stable condition f or a follow-up period of 3 years.