[Six cases of Sjögren's syndrome with lichen mucosae--studies on the histopathology of salivary gland and clinical manifestation of sicca features in the patients with lichen mucosae]

Abstract

A case of a 54-year old man with lichen mucosae and Sjögren's syndrome was reported. Clinical and histopathological analysis was made on the presence of sicca features in 6 patients with lichen mucosae. All patients complained either xerophthalmia or xerostomia and 5 out of 6 cases showed specific lymphocytic foci seen in Sjögren's syndrome in addition to lichenoid tissue reaction in the specimen obtained from buccal mucosae. Objective keratoconjunctivitis sicca was demonstrated in 3 cases. Immunologically, abnormal laboratory findings were observed in 5 cases (4 cases with a positive ANA and 3 cases with a positive anti microsome antibody). These findings suggest that lichen mucosae might develop in a close association with Sjögren's syndrome and relationship between these two disease was discussed in this article.