title: Serologic profile and clinical markers of Sjögren syndrome in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical relevance of rheumatoid factor (RF) and antibodies against cyclic citrullinated peptides (anti-CCP) in patients with Sjögren syndrome (SS) secondary to rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included 118 individuals, and the subjects were divided into three groups: rheumatoid arthritis (RA; n = 46), RA with secondary Sjögren syndrome (RA/SS; n = 20) and healthy controls (C; n = 52). Clinical and laboratory characteristics, including ocular, oral, and serum markers, anti-CCP, and rheumatoid factor (RF), were compared in addition to biopsy of labial minor salivary glands.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The RA group exhibited unstimulated salivary flow rate, and Schirmer test results were similar to those for C and higher than those for RA/SS (P < .05). Furthermore, the frequency of xerophthalmia and xerostomia was similar among the RA and C groups, and much higher in the RA/SS group (P < .05). Anti-CCP positivity and serum levels were similar in both RA groups, irrespective of SS diagnosis (RA × RA/SS; P > .05). RF presented a similar frequency and serum level between the RA and RA/SS groups (P > .05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Secondary SS seems to be a cluster of oral and ocular symptoms among patients with RA. Anti-CCP and RF are not relevant to evaluate the presence of SS among these patients.
authors.affiliation: Oral Medicine Unit, Departamento de Clínica e Odontologia Preventiva - Universidade Federal de Pernambuco. Av. Professor Moraes Rego, 1235 - Cidade Universitária, CEP: 50.670-901, Recife - PE/Brazil.
authors.forename: Hugo Franklin
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.affiliation: Oral Medicine Unit, Departamento de Clínica e Odontologia Preventiva - Universidade Federal de Pernambuco. Av. Professor Moraes Rego, 1235 - Cidade Universitária, CEP: 50.670-901, Recife - PE/Brazil.
authors.forename: Thayse Rodrigues
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: de Souza
authors.affiliation: Oral Medicine Unit, Departamento de Clínica e Odontologia Preventiva - Universidade Federal de Pernambuco. Av. Professor Moraes Rego, 1235 - Cidade Universitária, CEP: 50.670-901, Recife - PE/Brazil.
authors.forename: Camila Nunes
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Carvalho
authors.affiliation: Rheumatology Unit. Hospital das Clínicas - Universidade Federal de Pernambuco. Av. Professor Moraes Rego, 1235 - Cidade Universitária, CEP: 50.670-901, Recife - PE/Brazil.
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Duarte
authors.affiliation: Oral Medicine Unit, Departamento de Clínica e Odontologia Preventiva - Universidade Federal de Pernambuco. Av. Professor Moraes Rego, 1235 - Cidade Universitária, CEP: 50.670-901, Recife - PE/Brazil.
authors.forename: Alessandra Tavares
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Carvalho
authors.affiliation: Oral Medicine Unit, Departamento de Clínica e Odontologia Preventiva - Universidade Federal de Pernambuco. Av. Professor Moraes Rego, 1235 - Cidade Universitária, CEP: 50.670-901, Recife - PE/Brazil.
authors.forename: Jair Carneiro
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Leão
authors.affiliation: Oral Medicine Unit, Departamento de Clínica e Odontologia Preventiva - Universidade Federal de Pernambuco. Av. Professor Moraes Rego, 1235 - Cidade Universitária, CEP: 50.670-901, Recife - PE/Brazil. Electronic address: Luiz.mgueiros@ufpe.br.
authors.forename: Luiz Alcino
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Gueiros
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000097:blood*; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D001706:Biopsy; D001799:Blood Sedimentation; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic / Q000097:blood; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor / Q000097:blood; D012859:Sjogren's Syndrome / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D015415:Biomarkers; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic; C487763:cyclic citrullinated peptide; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor