The Arthropathy of Sjögren's Syndrome

Abstract

The clinical course of 48 patients with primary SS has been reviewed with particular reference to the articular manifestations. The incidence of arthritis and/or arthralgia was 54%. In a third of these patients it was a presenting feature and preceded sicca symptoms. The arthropathy tended to be polyarticular, the most frequent joint involved being the knee. It was symmetrical in 55% of cases. Joint symptoms or signs were intermittent, lasting less than a month in 55% of cases. The acute onset of purpuric vasculitis was associated with an acute arthritis in four out of the nine patients with such a vasculitis. Joint deformity was unusual, ulnar deviation occurring in only six patients. Hand X-rays obtained from primary SS patients revealed evidence of joint erosions in 33% of PIP joints, 27% of MCP joints and 12% of wrist joints.

Cerebellar degeneration in primary Sjӧgren syndrome

“…According to research, approximately half of the patients with PSS experience arthralgia with or without arthritis 36. Arthropathy is usually symmetric, intermittent, non-erosive and most commonly affects the hands, wrist and knees 37.…”

The initial manifestations and final diagnosis of patients with high and low titers of antinuclear antibodies after 6 months of follow-up

“…This is not surprising because most of the common autoimmune diseases present with arthritis or arthralgia during the disease course. For example, about 60% of SLE patients, 7 54e84% of SS, 8,9 and 12e66% of SSc 10,11 patients have joint involvement. In our study, only the adult patients presented with sicca syndrome.…”

Pain in primary Sjögren's syndrome

“…AMs can precede the onset of pSS in 10e20% of the patients, although in most of them their appearance is simultaneous with the onset of sicca symptoms (40e50% of cases) [10,11]. Hand small joints, wrists, knees and ankles are more frequently involved, with a symmetrical pattern of presentation in about one half of the cases having peripheral small joint involvement.…”