Sjögren's syndrome: clinical, cytological, histological and colposcopic aspects in women.

Sjögren's syndrome, characterized by a progressive alteration of the exocrine glands which ultimately results in their atrophy, has the highest incidence among females. The main etiopathogenetic mechanism is autoimmunological. The symptomatology is made up of symptoms depending on an altered glandular secretion and mucosal dryness. Dyspareunia and pruritus, due to vaginal and vulvar dryness, are quite common symptoms. Few studies have considered the clinical and histological consequences of Sjögren's syndrome in the external female genitalia. In the present study 26 women (mean age 46 years) affected by Sjögren's syndrome were examined by means of a series of tests including gynecological examination exam, colposcopic inspection and cervical biopsy. All the patients showed a particular dryness a series of tests including gynecological examination failed to evidence malign cells and, in 15% of the subjects, showed an estrogenic insufficiency in various degrees. The colposcopic inspection revealed dystrophic processes resulting in the atrophy of the cervico-vaginal mucosa in 50% of the cases. The histological findings of the cervical biopsies evidenced the presence of a chronic cervicitis in 10% of the cases.