History of tonsillectomy is associated with glandular inflammation in Sjogren's disease

Dear Editor, Sjögren’s disease (SjD) is characterized by B cell hyperactivity and focal lymphocytic infiltration of salivary glands. The palatine tonsils are secondary lymphoid organs that are a first line of defence against pathogens, and a unique inductive site for B cell responses with selective homing to bronchial and nasal mucosae and lacrimal and salivary glands [1]. Tonsillectomy (TE) is a common surgical procedure that is often reported to have little effect on immune function [2] based on short-term studies. However, some studies have shown a reduction in serum immunoglobulins over time, and a population-based study found TE to be associated with long-term risk of respiratory, infectious and allergic diseases [3]. Further, a recent Swedish population-based study found that TE was associated with increased risk of several autoimmune diseases, including SjD [4]. Whether a history of TE is associated with the...