Clinical features of Sjogren's syndrome in patients with multiple sclerosis.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the frequency of clinical features of Sjogren's syndrome (SS) in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) receiving treatment with disease-modifying drugs (DMDs) or naïve to treatment and the possible association with clinical, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) parameters.


METHODS
A multicentre cross-sectional observational study was designed, based on a structured neurologist-administered questionnaire to 440 patients.


RESULTS
Twenty-eight of 230 (12%) patients receiving treatment with DMDs (DMDs(+)) and 14 of 210 (6.6%) treatment-naïve patients (DMDs(-) ) showed clinical features of SS. Four primary SS were diagnosed, two of which were DMDs(+) and two were DMDs(-) . Sicca symptoms were significantly associated with higher EDSS scores (P = 0.018), a low frequency of gadolinium-enhanced MRI-positive lesions (P = 0.018) and cerebral disturbances (P = 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Screening for the clinical features of SS should be performed in patients with MS both receiving treatment with immunomodulatory drugs and without therapy.
Annunziata
P
P
Department of Neurological, Neurosurgical and Behavioural Sciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy. annunziata@unisi.it
De Santi
L
L
Di Rezze
S
S
Millefiorini
E
E
Capello
E
E
Mancardi
G
G
De Riz
M
M
Scarpini
E
E
Vecchio
R
R
Patti
F
F
D000328:Adult; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D019370:Observation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012859:Sjogren's Syndrome / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D016899:Interferon-beta