RESPIRATORY FUNCTION STUDIES IN PATIENTS WITH CERTAIN CONNECTIVE TISSUE DISEASES

Interstitial lung disease in the connective tissue diseases

The connective tissue diseases (CTDs) are inflammatory, immune-mediated disorders in which interstitial lung disease (ILD) is common and clinically important. Interstitial lung disease may be the first manifestation of a CTD in a previously healthy patient. CTD-associated ILD frequently presents with the gradual onset of cough and dyspnea, although rarely may present with fulminant respiratory failure. Infection and drug reaction should always be ruled out. A diagnosis of idiopathic ILD should never be made without a careful search for subtle evidence of underlying CTD. Treatment of CTD-ILD typically includes corticosteroids and immunosuppressive agents.

Pulmonary function abnormalities in Sjögren's syndrome and the sicca complex

The frequency of pulmonary involvement in a group of 20 patients with Sjögren's syndrome or the sicca complex was evaluated with pulmonary function studies. In 12 patients pulmonary functional abnormalities were demonstrated. The most common abnormality was airway obstruction. Nine out of 13 patients with the limited variant of the disease (sicca complex) and three out of seven patients with the complete syndrome had abnormal pulmonary function.

Pulmonary involvement in primary biliary cirrhosis

The association of pulmonary fibrosis and primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) remains controversial. To determine the frequency of pulmonary fibrosis in PBC, a carefully selected series of 14 PBC patients, seven patients with Sicca complex, and 14 control subjects have been studied. Seven of the 14 patients with PBC had Sjögren's syndrome, four of whom had some clinical evidence of pulmonary disease. Evaluation of ventilatory capacity, gas transfer factor, arterial blood gases, and lung mechanics were performed. Gas transfer was reduced in patients with PBC associated with Sjögen's syndrome and in patients with the Sicca complex. These results suggest that the respiratory, clinical, ad functional abnormalities found in PBC are related to the presence of an associated Sjögen's syndrome.

Connective tissue disorders in otolaryngology

Connective tissue disorders may present with various otolaryngologic symptoms. The manifestations may represent vasculopathy, arthopathy, neuropathy or a combination of pathological processes. Rheumatoid arthritis may involve the middle ear, temporomandibular joints and larynx with mild symptoms or may be life-threatening in instances of cricoarytenoid arthritis. Dermatomyositis with its cutaneous and muscular symptoms prevalent in the head and neck is frequently associated with malignancy in patients over 40. Scleroderma not only affects the gastrointestinal tract but can also produce significant limitations of respiratory function. Systemic lupus erythematosus, polyarteritis modosa, Wegener's granulomatosis and giant cell arteritis produce numerous vascular changes in structures of otolaryngologic significance. In this puzzling group of disorders, protean symptoms may precede the development of a fulminant, widespread and fatal disease.