SJOGRENS-SYNDROME AND VIRUS

Though there have been claims for a key-role for a thus far unknown vi rus in the pathogenesis of Sjogren's syndrome (SS), conflicting result s are to be discussed in this review, One candidate is Epstein-Barr vi rus which has been found within epithelial cells of labial salivary gl ands (LSG), using in situ hybridization and polymerase chain reaction. Hepatitis virus C has also been suspected, but an issue has to be mad e on serological false-positive results. In the light of the detection of the tax gene of human T lymphotropic virus type 1 in LSG, retrovir uses have also been incriminated.