Beyond the dryness of Sjögren’s syndrome : renal complications and bone metabolism

Abstract

In this thesis, we addressed three clinical important issues: 1) the prevalence and consequences of distal renal tubular acidosis in Primary Sjögren’s syndrome patients; 2) the effect of Primary Sjögren’s syndrome on bone metabolism; 3) the effect of hydroxychloroquine on bone metabolism. __Part 1__ includes the clinical studies of this thesis and is dedicated to the evaluation of distal renal tubular acidosis and its consequences in Primary Sjögren’s syndrome and the effect of Primary Sjögren’s syndrome on bone. __Part 2__ includes the laboratory studies of this thesis in which we demonstrate the effects of hydroxychloroquine on human bone cells both in vivo and in vitro