THE CLINICAL-FEATURES OF SJOGRENS-SYNDROME IN JAPANESE CHILDREN

Sjogren's syndrome (SS) is thought to be uncommon in children. An epid emiological study to describe the clinical features distinguishing SS in Japanese children was performed by sending questionnaires to hospit als. A total of 61 cases of SS were reported from 1290 hospitals. The diagnosis of SS was based on histopathological changes and/or sialogra phic changes in the salivary glands, Forty-two cases had prim,sly SS a nd 19 were secondary SS with other autoimmune disorders. Fourteen case s (65%) of secondary SS were associated with systemic lupus erythemato sus. In primary SSI the initial symptoms were systemic manifestations (fever, exanthema arthralgia. etc) except for sicca symptoms, In labor atory studies, antinuclear antibodies, elevated serum Igc. rheumatoid factor, anti-Ro/SS-A antibodies and anti-La!SS-B antibodies were frequ ently observed.