[Sulfasalazine therapy for hypergammaglobulinemia in patients with Sjögren's syndrome].

Steroid therapy has been used in patients with Sjögren's syndrome and hyperviscosity syndrome due to hypergammaglobulinemia. We report here the use of sulfasalazine therapy on patients with Sjögren's syndrome and serum immunoglobulin G levels of more than 3000 mg/dl. Sulfasalazine was used because of its inhibitory effect on B cells. Serum levels of immunoglobulin G and A were decreased after 8 weeks' administration of 1000 mg/day sulfasalazine. However four of the eleven patients experienced a side effect (skin rash). Sulfasalazine therapy could be used continuously and appeared to be an effective therapy.