By BENGİSU ASLAN, TAHİR SAYGIN ÖĞÜT, FUNDA ERBASAN, et al., Published on 01/01/22

Objectives: Sjögren’s disease (SjD) and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT) are closely associated autoimmune diseases. This study compared elastographic changes in the major salivary and thyroid glands of patients with SjD and HT. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 30 SjD and 31 HT patients. Ultrasonography and Shear Wave Elastography (SWE) were performed to evaluate the parotid, submandibular, and thyroid glands. Salivary gland structural changes were assessed using OMERACT scores, while thyroids were evaluated for heterogeneity and pseudonodular appearance. Results: Thyroid parenchymal heterogeneity was more frequent in HT patients, though 43% of SjD patients also exhibited HT-like thyroid features. In contrast, no HT patients showed SjD-like salivary gland changes (OMERACT score ≥3). Elastographic measurements of thyroid and salivary glands did not differ significantly between groups, even after age adjustment via ANCOVA. Furthermore, clinical disease activity (ESSDAI) did not correlate with elastographic findings in SjD. However, SjD patients with severe structural changes (OMERACT score ≥4) had significantly higher elastography indices exclusively in the left parotid gland (p=0.004). Conclusion: SjD is associated with thyroiditis-like changes in the thyroid, but HT lacks structural salivary gland involvement. Elastographic findings of these glands are similar in both diseases. Generally, ultrasonographically detected salivary gland parenchymal changes in SjD do not significantly affect glandular elasticity.