Abstract

COELHO HORIMOTO, Alex Magno; POSSAMAI, Vinicius de Macedo  and  COSTA, Izaias Pereira da. Sjögren’s syndrome and sicca symptoms in patients with systemic sclerosis. Rev. argent. reumatolg. [online]. 2016, vol.27, n.4, pp.20-27. ISSN 0327-4411.

Introduction: Several autoimmune diseases can be accompanied by dysfunction of the salivary glands, regardless of the presence or absence of association with Sjögren’s syndrome (SS). A recent study by Maeshima and colleagues found salivary hyposecretion in 58.3% of patients with various connective tissue diseases, particularly systemic sclerosis (SSc). Objective: To determine the prevalence of SS and Sicca symptoms in patients with SSc. Assess whether the presence of SS in patients with SSc causes worsening of the disease. Methods: 69 SSc patients periodically monitored in the rheumatology clinic at NHU/UFMS composed the study. All patients were questioned about sicca symptoms and clinical features. We evaluated the RF levels, ANA, anti-Ro/La. Results and discussion: 69 SSc patients were enrolled in the study, with average age of 51.2 years, 98.3% females and 50% caucasian. Sicca symptoms were present in 48 patients (69.5%) with SSc; 43/69 patients (62.3%) with dry mouth and 46/69 patients (66.7%) with dry eye. Sicca symptoms were observed in patients with limited and diffuse form of the disease. The antinuclear antibody positivity was 95% and the rheumatoid factor (RF) was observed in 14 patients (23.3%). Anti-Ro (SSA) antibodies were detected in 11 patients (15.9%) and anti-La (SSB) in 6 patients (8.7%) in this study. Only 16 patients (23.2%) had true SS, according to the American-European Consensus Group on Classification Criteria for Sjögren’s syndrome. The findings in the study corroborate data found in literature. Conclusion: This study confirms that Sicca symptoms are found in a large number of patients with SSc. Sjögren prevalence was observed in 23.2% of the SSc patients, including patients with limited and diffuse cutaneous subtype of disease. Key words: Sicca syndrome, Sjögren’s syndrome, overlap, autoantibodies, systemic sclerosis

Keywords : Sicca syndrome; Sjögren’s syndrome; overlap; autoantibodies; systemic sclerosis.