Prevalence of primary Sjögren's syndrome in an elderly population.
Sixty-two elderly apparently healthy volunteers, inmates of a public nursing home, were examined for evidence of primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS). Evaluation included a specific questionnaire for subjective xerophthalmia and xerostomia, slit-lamp eye examination after rose Bengal staining. Schirmer's I test, stimulated parotid flow measurement, testing of sera for autoantibodies and labial minor salivary gland biopsy. A greater than or equal to 2+ lip biopsy score on Tarpley's scale was a sine qua non for the diagnosis of Sjögren's syndrome. Labial salivary gland (LSG) biopsy revealed fibrosis and/or fatty infiltration in the majority of the individuals, related to ageing. However, four people had a lip biopsy score of greater than or equal to 2+, which, supplemented by other objective criteria, classified three of them as having pSS. Another four had an LSG biopsy score of 1+, and although they fulfilled other objective criteria, they could not be characterized as pSS. All these individuals were completely asymptomatic, and none of them had anti-Ro(SSA) or anti-La(SSB) autoantibodies. The present study suggests that pSS in elderly people in elderly people is subclinical, benign and relatively common.
Drosos
A A
AA
Department of Medicine, University of Ioannina, Greece.
Andonopoulos
A P
AP
Costopoulos
J S
JS
Papadimitriou
C S
CS
Moutsopoulos
H M
HM
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001324:Autoantigens / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006115:Greece; D006801:Humans; D007637:Keratoconjunctivitis / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D020733:RNA, Small Cytoplasmic; D012261:Ribonucleoproteins; D012469:Salivary Glands / Q000473:pathology; D012859:Sjogren's Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014987:Xerostomia / Q000453:epidemiology; D000097585:SS-B Antigen; D000099207:SS-A Antigen
D001324:Autoantigens; D020733:RNA, Small Cytoplasmic; D012261:Ribonucleoproteins; D000097585:SS-B Antigen; D000099207:SS-A Antigen; C116006:RO60 protein, human