Overlap syndrome with Sjögren’s syndrome and systemic sclerosis in a steel rolling mill worker: a case report

Conclusions Occupational exposure to silica seemed to be associated with the patient’s clinical manifestations of overlap syndrome with Sjögren’s syndrome and systemic sclerosis. Although the underlying mechanism is still unclear, autoimmune disease including Sjögren’s syndrome affects women more often than men and there was no family history of autoimmune disease. These suggested that there was an association between occupational silica exposure and the disease of the patient. Future research about the association between long-term low dose exposure to silica and the development of autoimmune diseases should be encouraged.
Source: Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine - Category: Occupational Health Source Type: research