RESEARCH - Prevalence of Sjogen's syndrome among Nagasaki atomic bomb survivors

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Ann Rheum Dis. 2008 May;67(5):689-95. Epub 2007 Sep 28.

Prevalence of Sjogren syndrome among Nagasaki atomic bomb survivors.

Hida A, Akahoshi M, Takagi Y, Ashizawa K, Imaizumi M, Soda M, Maeda R,

Nakashima E, Ida H, Kawakami A, Nakamura T, Eguchi K.

Department of Clinical Studies, Radiation Effects Research Foundation,

1-8-6 Nakagawa, Nagasaki 850-0013, Japan.

OBJECTIVES: Through a comprehensive epidemiological study, we

determined Sjögren syndrome (SS) prevalence and examined the

association between SS and ionising radiation dose.

METHODS: A total of 1008 atomic bomb survivors in Nagasaki agreed to

undergo the tests comprising a questionnaire for xerophthalmia and

xerostomia, Schirmer-I test, Saxon test, and tests of anti-SS-A/Ro and

anti-SS-B/La antibodies, and, if necessary, Rose Bengal stain test,

salivary ultrasonographic and MRI examination from November 2002

through October 2004. Diagnosis of SS was based on the

American-European Consensus Group criteria, or a modified version

thereof.

RESULTS: Among the 1008 participants (male 398, female 610, average

age 71.6 years), 154 participants (15.3%) complained of xerophthalmia,

and 264 (26.2%) of xerostomia. Reduced tear flow as assessed by the

Schirmer-I test was detected in 371 of 992 participants (37.4%) and

reduced saliva flow as assessed by the Saxon test in 203 of 993

participants (20.4%). Among all participants, 38 (3.8%) and 10 (1.0%)

participants tested positive for anti-SS-A/Ro and anti-SS-B/La

antibodies, respectively. Taking into consideration all the results,

23 participants were diagnosed with SS (primary 20, secondary 3),

yielding a prevalence of 2.3%. Although the association between SS and

radiation dose was not significant, radiation dose was significantly

associated with hyposalivation.

CONCLUSIONS: The present comprehensive epidemiological study reveals

that the prevalence of SS was 2.3% among Nagasaki atomic bomb

survivors and was not associated with radiation dose. The association

between radiation dose and hyposalivation supported the possibility

that radiation exposure damaged salivary gland function.

PMID: 17905783

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17905783

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