Salivary gland ultrasound is associated with the presence of autoantibodies in patients with Sjögren’s syndrome: A Danish single-centre study

Abstract

Objectives To investigate whether ultrasound findings of major salivary glands are correlated with serological markers, autoantibodies, patient- or doctor-reported disease activity in a Danish cohort of patients with primary Sjögren’s Syndrome (pSS). Methods In all, 49 patients at Odense University Hospital with pSS diagnosed according to the 2002 American-European Consensus Group (AECG) classification criteria were included. Patients were characterized using the EULAR Sjögren’s Syndrome Disease Activity Index (ESSDAI, score of systemic complications) and EULAR Sjögren’s Syndrome Patient Reported Index (ESSPRI), serologic markers, Schirmer’s test and salivary test. Salivary gland ultrasound (SGUS) was performed of the submandibular and parotid glands and scored according to the Outcome Measures in Rheumatoid Arthritis Clinical Trials (OMERACT) semi-quantitative scoring system. Results More patients with abnormal SGUS had antinuclear antibodies (ANA) (p = 0.002), anti-Ro52 (p = 0.001), anti-Ro60 (p<0.001), anti-La (p<0.001) and IgM-RF (p<0.001). Titers for ANA (p = 0.02) and anti-Ro52 (p = 0.03) were higher in patients with abnormal SGUS. Twenty-three of the pSS patients had no pathological findings on SGUS. There was no correlation between SGUS severity and ESSDAI- or ESSPRI-scores. Conclusions Abnormal SGUS findings are associated with autoantibodies of high specificity for pSS but not with ESSDAI, ESSPRI or inflammatory markers.

Has the Time Come?

“…The graded images of each researcher, classified according to the OMERACT US semiquantitative scoring system, appeared to correspond to different grades, despite actually belonging to the same grade. [13][14][15][16][17] This was particularly noticeable in the lower grades.…”

“…11 A consensus-based definition of abnormal US findings and the resulting reliable semiquanti-tative 4-grade scoring system were previously proposed by the Outcome Measures in Rheumatology (OMERACT) group and have since been validated by various researchers. [12][13][14][15][16][17] The reason for this surge in the use of US is that it is noninvasive, versatile, simple, and inexpensive. The momentum for introducing SS into classification criteria is expected to increase in the future.…”

Evaluation of fetal thymus size in maternal autoimmune diseases: systemic lupus erythematosus, Sjögren’s syndrome and antiphospholipid antibody syndrome

“…Activation of chronic lupus nephritis during pregnancy may adversely affect maternal and fetal health by leading to increased hypertension and renal failure. Sjögren’s syndrome (SS) is a chronic autoimmune disease that primarily affects the lacrimal and salivary glands, especially in women 20–40 years old, and may cause fetal congenital heart block associated with maternal anti-Ro/SSA and anti-La/SSB antibodies [ 5 , 6 ]. Antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (APS) is an autoimmune disease mostly seen in young women, with the presence of antiphospholipid antibodies in the blood causing coagulation in arteries or veins, miscarriage, or other pregnancy problems [ 7 ].…”