Ultrasound-detected salivary gland abnormalities may become more severe over time in patients with Sjögren’s syndrome, according to a press release from the American College of Rheumatology (ACR). In a cross-sectional international study presented by Tison et al at ACR Convergence 2023, researchers recruited 247 patients with Sjögren’s syndrome—a majority of whom were female patients, with a median age of 58 years. They reported that almost 100% of the patients experienced oral dryness, 75% had abnormal salivary flow, and 85% were positive for anti-Sjögren’s syndrome–related antigen A autoantibodies. The researchers grouped the patients who participated in the study by the duration of their disease since the onset of dry mouth symptoms: groups A, B, C, and D had lived with symptoms for less than 5 years (n = 47), 5 to 9 years (n = 69), 10 to 20 years (n = 78), and more than 20 years (n = 53), respectively. They then analyzed the most severe glands in each patient and noted that disease duration appeared to correlate with their Outcome Measures in Rheumatology scores. The researchers hypothesized that slow-progressing disease may start long before initial disease detection. The new findings highlighted the significance of including ultrasound findings in the classification criteria for Sjögren’s syndrome and underscored the need to better understand when the disease develops.
November 30, 2023