Factors Predict Outcomes for Sjogren's Syndrome

Vasculitis and other factors associated with lower survival

FRIDAY, Aug. 17 (HealthDay News) -- Parotid scintigraphy, vasculitis, hypocomplementemia and cryoglobulinemia predict lower survival in patients with primary Sjogren's syndrome, according to study findings published in the August issue of Rheumatology.

Manuel Ramos-Casals, M.D., Ph.D., and colleagues from the University of Barcelona in Spain, followed up 266 patients with primary Sjogren's syndrome who were treated between 1984 and 2002.

The researchers found that 9 percent of patients developed vasculitis, 3 percent developed B-cell lymphoma and 9 percent of patients died. Patients who had at least two predictive factors (severe involvement on parotid scintigraphy, vasculitis, hypocomplementemia, such as low C3 or low C4, and cryoglobulinemia) had 68 percent survival, compared to 93 percent in those with one and 96 percent in those with none.

"These features identify a specific subset of patients diagnosed with primary Sjogren's syndrome in whom a closer follow-up, and probably an earlier and more robust therapeutic management, should be mandatory," Ramos-Casals and colleagues conclude.

Abstract
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