Salivary Gland Ultrasonography as a Diagnostic Tool for Secondary Sjögren Syndrome in Rheumatoid Arthritis.
OBJECTIVE
To assess salivary gland ultrasonography (US) as a diagnostic tool for secondary Sjögren syndrome (sSS) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).


METHODS
Salivary gland US images from 30 patients with RA were graded using a validated semiquantitative scoring system. Sicca symptoms, oral health, and RA disease activity were assessed.


RESULTS
US changes consistent with SS were found in 40% of patients. Patients with higher US scores had more sicca symptoms as well as higher RA activity and poorer oral health.


CONCLUSIONS
Salivary gland US may aid the diagnosis of sSS in patients with RA.
From the Division of Rheumatology, Allergy, and Immunology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA.S. Das, MD; D. Huynh, MD; H. Yang, MD, PhD; A. Ceponis, MD, PhD; A. Kavanaugh, MD.
Sunil
S
Das
From the Division of Rheumatology, Allergy, and Immunology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA.S. Das, MD; D. Huynh, MD; H. Yang, MD, PhD; A. Ceponis, MD, PhD; A. Kavanaugh, MD.
DoQuyen
D
Huynh
From the Division of Rheumatology, Allergy, and Immunology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA.S. Das, MD; D. Huynh, MD; H. Yang, MD, PhD; A. Ceponis, MD, PhD; A. Kavanaugh, MD.
Hong
H
Yang
From the Division of Rheumatology, Allergy, and Immunology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA.S. Das, MD; D. Huynh, MD; H. Yang, MD, PhD; A. Ceponis, MD, PhD; A. Kavanaugh, MD.
Arnoldas
A
Ceponis
From the Division of Rheumatology, Allergy, and Immunology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA.S. Das, MD; D. Huynh, MD; H. Yang, MD, PhD; A. Ceponis, MD, PhD; A. Kavanaugh, MD. akavanaugh@ucsd.edu Rheum.doc101@gmail.com.
Arthur
A
Kavanaugh
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012469:Salivary Glands / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D012859:Sjogren's Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014463:Ultrasonography
DIAGNOSIS; RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS; SJÖGREN SYNDROME; ULTRASOUND