title: Usefulness of antibodies and minor salivary gland biopsy in the study of sicca syndrome in daily clinical practice.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the association between histologic findings in the minor salivary gland biopsy (MSGB) and anti La (La/SS-B)y antiRo antibodies (Ro/SS-A), antinuclear antibodies (ANA) and Rheumatoid Factor (RF),and compare the value of the latter as diagnostic tests with MSGB, considered as the gold standard.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with suspected Primary Sjögren Syndrome (PSS) referred for MSGB were included. Antibody measurements were performed. Grade III and IV biopsy results were considered positive.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two hundred and eighteen (218) patients were included, 95% females, with a median age of 54 years and 12 months median duration of sicca symptoms. 36 of the biopsies were positive. 33% of patients had positive anti Ro/SS-A anti La/SS-B antibodies, 62% had positive ANA, and 31% positive RF. A statistically significant association was found between MSGB and anti Ro/SS-A anti La/SS-B, ANA and RF. ANA were the most sensitive antibodies (84%. 95% CI: 75- 92), and the most specific were: Anti Ro/ SS-A and/or anti La/ SS-B (78%. 95% CI: 71-85) and RF (78%. 95% CI: 69-87).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  On PSS clinical suspicion, anti Ro/ SS-A y anti La/ SS-B antibodies have a great value to achieve the diagnosis, with MSGB useful for diagnosis of seronegative patients. The results also suggest the importance of ANA and RF for PSS classification.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Reumatología, Hospital General de Agudos Bernardino Rivadavia, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Electronic address: lidasantiagor@yahoo.com.ar.
authors.forename: Maria Lida
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Santiago
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Reumatología, Hospital General de Agudos Bernardino Rivadavia, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Maria Renata
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Seisdedos
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Reumatología, Hospital General de Agudos Bernardino Rivadavia, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Rodrigo Nicolás
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Garcia Salinas
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Reumatología, Hospital General de Agudos Bernardino Rivadavia, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Catalán Pellet
authors.affiliation: Cátedra de Anatomía Patológica, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Liliana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Villalón
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Reumatología, Hospital General de Agudos Bernardino Rivadavia, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Anastasia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Secco
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000097:blood*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001706:Biopsy; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor / Q000097:blood*; D012470:Salivary Glands, Minor / Q000473:pathology*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012859:Sjogren's Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D015415:Biomarkers; C035356:SS-A antibodies; C035357:SS-B antibodies; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor
keywords: Anti La/SS-B; Anti Ro/SS-A; Biopsia de glándula salival; Complejo sicca; Salivary gland biopsy; Sicca complex; Sjögren