Quantitative assessment of clinical disease status in primary Sjögren's syndrome. A cross-sectional study using a new classification model

Scand J Rheumatol. 1997;26(3):197-205. doi: 10.3109/03009749709065681.

Abstract

Quantitative and qualitative assessment of the clinical disease manifestations in 41 primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) patients was performed according to a new classification model. Frequencies of subgrouped disease manifestations were as follows: 1) surface exocrine disease: 100%, 2) internal organ exocrine disease: 63%, 3) monoclonal B lymphocyte disease: 5%, 4) inflammatory vascular disease: 71%, 5) non-inflammatory vascular disease: 59%, 6) mediator induced disease: 98%. Summary scores for severity of surface exocrine disease correlated to the summary scores of all other disease manifestations (p = 0.02), to the summary scores of internal organ exocrine disease (p = 0.003), and to the summary scores of mediator induced disease (p = 0.03). Blood leucocyte counts showed significant negative correlations to levels of plasma IgG, serum IgA-RF, IgM-RF, anti-SSA/SSB antibodies, IL-6, and IL-1Ra. We conclude that the model made detailed analysis of the clinical presentation of pSS possible, and thus may assist in elucidating important pathobiological aspect of the disease.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Autoantibodies / blood
  • Blood Proteins / analysis
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Cytokines / blood
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immune System / immunology
  • Interleukins / blood
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Severity of Illness Index*
  • Sjogren's Syndrome / blood
  • Sjogren's Syndrome / classification
  • Sjogren's Syndrome / diagnosis*

Substances

  • Autoantibodies
  • Blood Proteins
  • Cytokines
  • Interleukins