Abnormal Liver Function in Patients with Sjogren's Syndrome

We measured the liver function tests of 145 patients with Sjogren's syndrome (SjS) (75 patients with primary SjS, 70 patients with secondary SjS), and characterized the SjS patients with abnormal liver function tests from several points of view : 1, the incidence of them in the primary SjS comparing with that in secondary SjS. 2, the staining pattern of anti-nuclear antibodies, and 3, the existence of antihepatitis C virus (HCV) antibody, hepatitis B surface (HBs) antigen, and antibody against human T-lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I). Abnormal liver function tests were detected in 38 out of 145 patients (26.2%) with SjS. Fifteen of the 38 patients (20.0%) had primary SjS while the remaining patients (32.9%) had secondary SjS. Histopathological examination identified primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) in 2 patients, autoimmune hepatitis in 4 patients, and autoimmune cholangitis in a single patient with SjS. No significant difference in the presence of antinuclear antibody (ANA) was found between SjS patients with and without abnormal liver function tests. However, the incidence of discrete speckled pattern was significantly higher in SjS patients with abnormal liver function than in the patients with normal liver function. Two sera showing cytoplasmic pattern of ANA were also positive for anti-mitochondrial M2 antibody, allowing the diagnosis of PBC. All 11 sera exhibiting discrete speckled pattern contained significant amounts of anti-centromere antibody. Abnormal liver function tests were detected in 8 of 11 sera with these antibodies, 2 patients with PBC, 2 patients with autoimmune hepatitis, one patient with autoimmune cholangitis, one patient with chronic hepatitis B and 2 other patients with unconfirmed diagnosis. The percentages of anti-HCV antibody-positive, HBs-Agpositive and anti-HTLV-I antibody-positive in sera of patients were higher than those of blood donors from the same geographical area. However, no significant difference was seen of these percentages
Acta medica Nagasakiensia. 1996, 41(3-4), p.31-37