SJOGRENS-SYNDROME, LYMPHOCYTIC INTERSTITI AL PNEUMONITIS, AND BRONCHIECTASIS

Respiratory manifestations associated with primary Sjogren's syndrome (SS) are relatively rare but very diverse, with the most common being dryness of the upper and lower respiratory tract and lymphocytic inter stitial pneumonitis (LIP). Bronchiectasis does not seem to have been r eported in SS, A 34-year-old woman admitted for investigation of abund ant purulent sputum, exertional dyspnea, a purulent nasal discharge, d ryness of the mouth, and a stinging sensation in the eyes was found to have primary SS, LIP, and bronchiectasis. This combination raises eti opathogenic and pathophysiologic questions: SS causes dryness of the r espiratory tract, whereas bronchiectasis is usually accompanied with t racheal and bronchial hypersecretion.