Objective: To investigate the frequency of sialadenitis on lip biopsy in patients with synovitis of recent onset (ES), and see how sialadenitis relates to clinical and laborator findings of ES.
Methods: Joint involvement, laboratory measures and biopsies of the minor salivary glands were evaluated in 10 ES patients. Diagnosis at a one-year follow-up exam was noted.
Results: Six ES patients (60%) had a positive lip biopsy (mononuclear cell focus score greater than 1). ES patients with a positive lip biopsy presented with oligoarthritis, while ES patients with a negative lip biopsy had a more polyarticular presentation. No differences in laboratory measures between patients with a positive and negative lip biopsy were present. Seven ES patients had a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis and three had undifferentiated arthritis at the end of one year.
Conclusion: ES patients had a higher than expected frequency offocal sialadenitis.