Primary Sjögren's syndrome and bronchiolitis. An unusual association.

Sjögren's syndrome (SS) is a systemic autoimmune disease that mainly affects the exocrine glands. It has been reported that the association between SS and respiratory involvement occurs in 11% and 45% of cases, and can be the initial manifestation of the disease. The diagnosis is based on the integration of clinical, immunological and histopathological criteria. This paper examines a 58-year-old man with SS, severe dyspnea and recurrent exacerbations associated with bronchiolitis-bronchiectasis. The absence of anti-Ro and anti-La antibodies associated with severe bronchiolitis is a clinical presentation that is poorly characterized in this group of patients; moreover, how to treat them remains unclear.