A 77-Year-Old Woman With Sjogren Syndrome Experiencing Progressive Dyspnea on Exertion and Nonproductive Cough

A 77-year-old woman was referred to our interstitial lung disease unit. She presented with a history of progressive dyspnea on exertion and nonproductive, persistent cough over the previous year. She was diagnosed with Sjogren syndrome two years ago by a rheumatologist. In the context of Sjogren syndrome, she reported chronic xerostomia and xerophthalmia for the last 5 years. Her history was also notable for the presence of arterial hypertension and hypothyroidism. She denied the presence of shortness of breath, chest pain, arthralgia, muscle weakness, weight loss, night sweats, and fatigue. She reported exposure to house mold. There was no family history of respiratory diseases. The patient never smoked and denied alcohol consumption, illicit drug use, or any occupational exposures.