Polymyalgia rheumatica in primary Sjögren's syndrome

Area of Science:

• Rheumatology
• Immunology
• Internal Medicine

Background:

• Primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) is a chronic autoimmune disease.
• Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) is an inflammatory condition primarily affecting older adults.
• The co-occurrence of pSS and PMR is not well-characterized.

Purpose of the Study:

• To delineate the clinical and laboratory features of primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) associated with polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR).
• To compare patients with pSS and co-existing PMR against those with pSS alone.
• To understand the distinct characteristics of the pSS/PMR overlap syndrome.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective cohort study comparing two groups of patients.
• Group 1: Patients with pSS and PMR (n=16).
• Group 2: Patients with pSS without PMR (n=531).

Main Results:

• Prevalence of PMR in pSS patients was 3%, significantly higher than the general population (0.75%).
• PMR developed approximately 8.7 years after pSS diagnosis, particularly in older females (>50 years) with glandular features.
• pSS/PMR patients exhibited hypogammaglobulinemia and more frequent positive ANA serology, contrasting with hypergammaglobulinemia in pSS-only patients.

Conclusions:

• The pSS/PMR overlap syndrome presents distinct immunological profiles (hypogammaglobulinemia, ANA positivity) compared to pSS alone.
• PMR development in pSS patients is associated with specific demographic and clinical factors.
• Recognizing the unique characteristics of pSS/PMR is crucial for tailored clinical management.