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ED?T?RE MEKTUP
LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Doi: 10.5578/tt.7937
Tuberk Toraks 2014;62(3):243-244

Geli? Tarihi/Received: 24.06.2014 • Kabul Edili? Tarihi/Accepted: 15.07.2014

Primer Sj?gren sendromunda mukozal kurulu?a ba?l? kronik ?ks?r?k: olgu sunumu

Ay?e Bilge ?ZT?RK1, Erman ?ZT?RK2, Esen KASAPO?LU2


1 Medeniyet ?niversitesi, SB G?ztepe E?itim ve Ara?t?rma Hastanesi, Eri?kin Allerji ?nitesi, ?stanbul, T?rkiye

1 Units of Adult Allergy, Medeniyet University, Goztepe Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey

2 Medeniyet ?niversitesi, SB G?ztepe E?itim ve Ara?t?rma Hastanesi, ?? Hastal?klar? Anabilim Dal?, Hematoloji B?l?m?,

?stanbul, T?rkiye

2 Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, Medeniyet University, Goztepe Training and Research Hospital,

Istanbul, Turkey

3 Medeniyet ?niversitesi, SB G?ztepe E?itim ve Ara?t?rma Hastanesi, ?? Hastal?klar? Anabilim Dal?, Romatoloji B?l?m?,

?stanbul, T?rkiye

3 Division of Romatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Medeniyet University, Goztepe Training and Research Hospital,

Istanbul, Turkey

Chronic cough is defined as a cough of > 8 weeks of duration. A survey supported by European Respiratory Society with 18.277 subjects aged 20-48 from 16 countries world wide reported nocturnal cough in 30%, productive cough in 10% and non-productive cough in 10% of the population (1). Chronic cough in smokers may be as a result of chronic bronchitis or as a result of irritant effect of smoke, and cough is usually due to use of ACE inhibitors, asthma, rhinosinusitis or gastrooesophageal reflux in non-smokers with normal chest radiography (2). The majority of patients referred to allergy specialist are the patients having chronic cough nonresponsive to the treatment given before they referred. The successful treatment of chronic cough leads to a major improvement in quality of life. However, treatment of chronic cough is a challenge that standard chronic cough management provide modest improvement or no improvement in some cases. A careful clinical history gives important diagnostic clues that allow for target therapeutic approach without the need for further investigation.

Primary Sj?gren's syndrome is a systemic disease characterized by a chronic autoimmune inflammatory process. The most relevant finding of the disease is the presence of a focal lymphocytic infiltration of the exocrine glands. The inflammation leads to glandular destruction and atrophy that causes mucosal dryness, mainly ocular (keratoconjunctivitis sicca), oral (xerostomy), tracheal (xerotrachea) or vaginal (vaginal xerosis) (3). The most frequent respiratory symptoms are chronic cough and dyspnea in primary Sj?gren's syndrome. Major histological patterns of primary Sj?gren's syndrome are non specific interstitial pneumonia, bronchiolitis, atelectatic fibrosis, malignant lymphoma, amyloid and honeycomb (3). All these findings could be responsible for chronic cough in primary Sj?gren's syndrome. However, the chronic cough most commonly is a result of mucosal dryness in trachea and oral mucosa (4). Here, we report a 64-year old woman applied to allergy outpatient clinic with a history of chronic cough and she was newly diagnosed as primary Sj?gren's syndrome with the history of mucosal dryness in eyes, trachea and oral mucosa.

She had a history of chronic cough for 3 years. The cough was present at day and night, with little mucus production. Additional complaints included postnasal drip, and dryness in her throat. The patient was referred for persistent cough with inadequate response to previous treatment prescribed by his chest medicine physician, including antihistamines, nasal steroid sprays, inhaler steroids, antibiotics, and proton-pump inhibitors. She was exsmoker for a year with the smoking history of 40 pack/year and she had isolated thrombocytosis for 3 years. Physical examination was unremarkable, with stable vital signs, including heart rate of 80 beats/min (regular), respiration of 16 breaths/min (regular), and blood pressure of 130/80 mmHg. Spirometric values were measured. Forced vital capacity (FVC) was 2.13 L (85% of predicted value). FEV1 was 1.66 L (82% of predicted value). The FEV1/FVC ratio was 87%. Reversibility test was negative. Results of chest radiography, computed tomographic scans of the sinuses, and high-resolution computed tomographic scans of the chest were all normal. Allergen sensitivity was not detected by skin prick test. Because the patient's symptoms did not improve with therapeutic trials for common disorders causing chronic cough, history and review of systems were revisited. On specific questioning, the patient noted that she had dryness of eyes and oral mucosa for many years. This led to consideration of Sj?gren's syndrome. Rheumatology referral was made. Laboratory findings included normal values for blood count with differential, comprehensive metabolic panel including antinuclear antibody, C-reactive protein and rheumatoid factor. Thrombocyte level was 728.000 cell/mL. Anti-Ro/SSA and anti-La/SSB antibodies and Schirmer test were positive. To verify the clinical diagnosis we performed a lip biopsy. Histological examination did not show any of lymphocytes infiltration in the parotid gland. She was diagnosed as primary Sj?gren's syndrome with her signs, symptoms, positive auto antibodies and Schirmer test results. Treatment with chloroquine and pilocarpine provided a relief on her cough.

We conclude that a careful clinical history gives important diagnostic clues for the aetiology of chronic cough. Use ACE inhibitors, asthma, rhinosinusitis or gastrooesophageal reflux could be the main cause of chronic cough. However, we should think the other causes of the chronic cough such as primary Sj?gren's syndrome in the patients having mucosal dryness who are unresponsive to therapeutic trials for common disorders causing chronic cough.

CONFLICT of INTEREST

None declared.

REFERENCES

  1. Janson C, Chinn S, Jarvis D, Burney P. Determinants of cough in young adults participating in the European Community Respiratory Health Survey. Eur Respir J 2001;18:647-54.
  2. Morice AH, Fontana GA, Sovijarvi AR, Pistolesi M, Chung KF, Widdicombe J, et al.; ERS? Task Force. Diagnosis and management of chronic cough. Eur Respir J 2004;24(3):481-92.
  3. Ito I, Nagai S, Kitaichi M, Nicholson AG, Johkoh T, Noma S, et al.? Pulmonary? manifestations? of? primary? Sj?gren's syndrome: a clinical, radiologic, and pathologic study. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2005;171(6):632-8.
  4. Constantopoulos?SH,? Moutsopoulos? HM.? Respiratory? system in? Sj?gren's syndrome. In: Talal? N,? Moutsopoulos? HM,? Kassan? SS (eds).? Sj?gren's Syndrome: Clinical and Immunological Aspects. Berlin: Springer-Verlag, 1987:83-9.

Yaz??ma Adresi (Address for Correspondence)

Dr. Ay?e Bilge ?ZT?RK

Medeniyet ?niversitesi,

SB G?ztepe E?itim ve Ara?t?rma Hastanesi,

Eri?kin Allerji ?nitesi,

?STANBUL - TURKEY

e-mail: aysebilgeozturk@yahoo.com

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