Lung involvement in Sjogren's syndrome

Lung involvement in primary Sjogren's syndrome, was first described by Henr ik Sjogren more than 50 years ago, who reported similar histopathological c hanges in the exocrine glands of the bronchi with those observed in the sal ivary glands. Since then, pulmonary involvement in primary Sjogren's syndro me, has been the subject of various studies and several pulmonary complicat ions have been described, including bronchial and bronchiolar disease, inte rstitial pneumonitis, and lymphoma. Although frequent and pleomorphic, pulm onary involvement is rarely clinically severe. However, in the symptomatic patient with significant functional and radiological abnormalities tissue d iagnosis, either by transbronchial or by open lung biopsy, is mandatory bec ause of the malignant potential of some lesions.