[Immunopathology of the labial salivary glands in Sjögren's syndrome and other autoimmune diseases]

Abstract

73 minor salivary gland biopsies (lip biopsy) were performed in patients with primary and secundary Sjögren's syndrome and other collagen diseases without sicca syndrome were studied by means of immunohistochemistry. The results were compared to those obtained in sarcoidosis, sialadenitis and normal glands. In all cases of Sjögren's syndrome and of other sialadenites, we could note predominance of T-lymphocytes with an increase of T-Helpers and a T-suppressor ratio superior to 1. Besides, HLA-DR antigen was present in all the activated cells of lymphocytic infiltrates, in endothelial cells and in some epithelial ductal and acinous cells around the infiltrates. This method cannot permit to differentiate Sjögren's syndrome from the other sialadenites. But, it is very useful to appreciate the evolutivity of the disease (increase in B-lymphocytes in the initial period and in evolutive phases) and to detect its change into pseudolymphoma (polyclonal cells with increase in B-cells) and into malignant lymphoma (usually monoclonal B-lymphocytes proliferation).