Salivary gland involvement in systemic lupus erythematosus. A sialographic study.

Hydrostatic parotid sialography was performed in 46 rheumatological patients, 17 of whom were SLE patients. Signs of atrophy of the parotid gland were noted more often in the SLE group (53%) than in the series as a whole (29%). Strictures in the duct and ductuli were also more common in the SLE group (67%) than in the whole series (50%). Sialectasis was only slightly more common (40%) in the SLE group than in the series as a whole (38%). Two contrast media, Amipaque (metrizamide, 170 mgI/ml) and Urographin 60% (sodium amidotrizoate + meglumin amidotrizoate 10:66, 290 mgI/ml) were used, of which Amipaque proved to be clearly better tolerated. This difference is probably due to the low osmolarity of Amipaque.