AUTOIMMUNE SIALADENITIS - A FORM OF ONSET OF SJOGRENS-SYNDROME

We analyzed phenotype, activation factors and adhesion molecules in mi nor salivary glands of patients with incomplete Sjogren's syndrome (SS ) criteria and those with autoimmune diseases without defined SS crite ria who presented cion-specific sialadenitis. These data were correlat ed with those observed in patients with established SS. A total of 76 minor salivary gland biopsies were analyzed. Twenty-five patients had defined SS, 23 probable SS and 28 had diffuse infiltrates without form ing foci (12 had probable SS and 16 had autoimmune disease without ass ociated SS). When a group of 23 patients with focal infiltrates (''foc al sialadenitis'') and probable SS was compared with another of 25 wit h defined SS, no significant differences were detected in the phenotyp e, activation or adhesion molecules studied or in HLA-DR expression in epithelium. In patients with diffuse infiltrate (''nonspecific sialad enitis''), no differences were found in phenotype cell activation mole cules expression was observed in the lymphocytes of some biopsies of p atients with autoimmune disease without SS, though without statistical significance. Statistically significant differences were found in HLA -DR expression in epithelium.