title: Histological and immunological study in patients with rheumatoid arthritis showing isolated abnormalities of salivary scintigraphy.
abstract: We report the histological and immunological findings in 20 rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients with impaired salivary scintigraphy but without sicca complex. This condition was stable over 2-5 years and associated with mild infiltrates on lip biopsies. Increased levels of IgG, immune complexes, and antinuclear antibodies were found in seven patients (35 vs 69% in secondary Sjögren's syndrome). Two of the seven patients later developed xerostomia. The above-mentioned immunological abnormalities may increase the likelihood of developing a clinical impairment of salivary function in patients with an abnormal salivary scintiscan, the latter being a frequent, yet often isolated, finding in RA. Antisalivary duct antibodies were not related to any other parameter of salivary gland involvement.
mesh_terms: D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D012469:Salivary Glands / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D012859:Sjogren's Syndrome / Q000150:complications