MATERIALS-METHODS
Thirty five patients diagnosed with SS and referred by the Department of
Rheumatology to determine potential lung involvement to the 8th chest
diseases outpatient clinic of our hospital between September 2015 and
december 2018 were included in this study. Respiratory signs,
demographic features, length of disease and treatment regimens,
pulmonary function test (PFT), data of 6-minute walk test (MWT) and
findings of high resolution computed tomography (HRCT) of the patients
were retrospectively obtained from hospital information system and
patient files.
The diagnosis of SS was made according to the 2002 international
classification Criteria for SS and / or 2016 ACR / EULAR Classification
criteria when the hospital registration details was examined (6,7).
A clinical spirometer was used to conduct pulmonary function tests
(PFTs) (SensorMedics Vmax spectra 229, Bilthoven, The Netherlands).
Patients performed the maximal expiratory flow maneuver. Forced
expiratory volume at 1 second (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC),
maximum expiratory flow at 50% of vital capacity (FEF25- 75%) and DLCO
values were obtained and FEV1 / FVC was measured. According to the
previously defined guidelines, standard PFTs like spirometry and lung
volumes were examined (8).
The patients were classified into four groups according to their PFT :
obstructive (FEV1 / FVC <70%), restrictive (FEV1 / FVC
<70% and FVC <80% and DLCO <80%) and
small airway obstruction (FEF25-75% <65%) and normal (8).
6MWT is a technique that measures exercise capasity within six minutes
in individuals with chronic lung disease. The distance walked, initial
and final oxygen saturation, the changes in the heart rate and dyspnea
indoors within six minutes at a distance of 30 meters were recorded.
According to the HRCT findings, the patients were classified into two
groups as with or without CT findings, and the ground glass densities in
the lung parenchyma, consolidation, bronchiectasis, interstitial
thickening, peribronchial thickening, reticular appearance, and
honeycomb appearance were identified as positive findings.