Positive histopathologic assessment in salivary glands shows little impact on clinical features of established primary Sjögren's syndrome in a Korean population

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: The presence and severity of focal lymphocytic sialadenitis in minor salivary glands is a pathognomonic feature in primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS). However, it has not been determined whether performing minor salivary gland biopsy (MSGB) in a setting of serologically and clinically established pSS provides additional clinical value. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the necessity of MSGB in established pSS patients with anti-Ro/SSA antibodies.

METHODS: We extracted 185 patients with anti-Ro/SSA antibody-positive pSS from the Korean Initiative of pSS study, a prospective cohort study. We assigned them into two groups, 161 patients with focus scores ≥1 and another 24 with focus scores <1. The two groups were compared in various clinical aspects, including the severity of glandular dysfunction, systemic disease activity, extra- glandular manifestations, and other clinical indices and laboratory values. We also evaluated the relationship between focus scores and clinically important variables in pSS.

RESULTS: Between the two groups, there were no significant differences in the severity of secretory dysfunction, the frequency of extra-glandular manifestations, systemic disease activity represented by various clinical indices, and laboratory findings possibly predicting the risk for lymphoma. Rather, the Sjögren's syndrome disease damage index was higher in the group with focus scores <1. Among all variables, only serum immunoglobulin G levels were correlated with focus scores.

CONCLUSIONS: Given the little influence on clinical phenotypes, routine MSGB could be omitted for serologically and clinically established pSS patients, especially in low-risk areas for lymphoproliferative diseases.