Research Article

Joint Involvement in Primary Sjögren’s Syndrome: An Ultrasound “Target Area Approach to Arthritis”

Table 1

Characteristics of patients with primary and secondary Sjögren’s syndromes as well as no-Sjögren controls. Data are presented in median (range) unless otherwise specified.

Primary Sjögren’s syndrome ( )Secondary Sjögren’s syndrome ( ) value**No-Sjögren controls ( ) value***

Female, (%)17 (100)17 (94)ns17 (100)ns
Age, years58 (32–83)61 (40–77)ns58 (32–83)ns
SS duration, years3 (1–18)9 (1–30)0.006
Xerostomia, (%)17 (100)18 (100)ns
Keratoconjunctivitis, (%)17 (100)18 (100)ns
Salivary gland biopsy*, + (%)6/8 (75)4/6 (67)ns
CRP, mg/L1.9 (0.3–15.1)7.7 (1.1–44.3)ns1.1 (0.1–8.2)ns
RF, + (%)14 (82)18 (100)ns1 (6%)<0.0001
Anti-CCP, + (%)1 (6)13 (72)<0.00010ns
ANA, + (%)16 (94)18 (100)ns0<0.0001
Anti-Ro/SSA, + (%)10 (59)2 (11)0.00400.0003
Anti-La/SSB, + (%)6 (35)00.00700.01

More than one focus of lymphocytic infiltration in minor salivary tissue.
**Differences between patients with primary and secondary Sjögren’s syndromes.
***Differences between patients with primary Sjögren’s syndrome and no-Sjögren controls.
Abbreviations: SS: Sjögren’s syndrome; CRP: C-reactive protein; RF: rheumatoid factor; anti-CCP: antibodies against cyclic citrullinated peptides; ANA: antinuclear antibodies.