Does Sjögren’s Syndrome Reduce Lung Volume Measured by Computed Tomography Volumetry After a 5-Year Period?

Objective: The aim of the study was to measure the lung volume of patients with a diagnosis of Sjögren’s syndrome using quantitative lung computed tomography volumetry and to compare lung volumes of patients with or without lung involvement which were computed from initial chest computed tomography and last chest computed tomography obtained at least 5 years later.

Methods: After obtaining institutional review board approval, patients with Sjögren’s syndrome who underwent chest computed tomography twice over at least a 5-year period between November 2012 and November 2022 were retrospectively included in the study. A total of 37 patients with Sjögren’s syndrome were separated into 2 groups: the lung involvement group (22 patients) and the normal lung group (15 patients). A vast majority of the study participants were female (36 females and 1 male). The mean age of the study population was 54 ± 8.9 months. Total, right, and left lung volumes were calculated using automated software (Pulmo 3D and Syngo via). Computed tomography images were evaluated by 2 radiologists to understand whether there was lung involvement by consensus. Lung volumes measured from the initial and last computed tomographies were compared in both groups.

Results: Total, right, and left lung volumes measured from the initial and last computed tomographies were not statistically different in both groups (P values are .238, .271, .294, .123, .213, and .511, respectively). However, when the lung volumes of patients with Sjögren’s syndrome are compared between normal lung group and lung involvement group, patients with lung involvement have lower lung volume values than patients without lung involvement (P=.034 for total lung volume).

Conclusion: Regardless of the lung involvement, the lung volumes of patients with Sjögren’s syndrome were not significantly different after at least 5 years. Sjögren’s syndrome patients with lung involvement have smaller lung volumes when compared to the counterparts without lung involvement.

Cite this article as: Kılınçer A., Özer H. Does Sjögren’s syndrome reduce lung volume measured by CT volumetry after a 5-year period? Arch Basic Clin Res., 2023;5(3):391-396.