Clinimetric methods in Sjögren's syndrome.

Area of Science:

• Rheumatology
• Ophthalmology
• Dentistry
• Clinical Immunology

Background:

• Sjögren's syndrome (SS) management relies on clinimetric tools for diagnosis and disease status evaluation.
• Monitoring sicca signs and symptoms, fatigue, quality of life, and disease activity/chronicity is essential in SS.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review available methods for assessing various aspects of Sjögren's syndrome.
• To identify effective tools for diagnosing and monitoring SS in clinical practice and research.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive literature search was conducted using PubMed and MEDLINE.
• Keywords included "keratoconjunctivitis sicca diagnosis," "Sjögren's syndrome outcomes," and "fatigue scales in Sjögren's syndrome."
• Relevant articles and secondary references were systematically reviewed.

Main Results:

• Assessment of both sicca symptoms and signs is crucial due to moderate correlation.
• While many tests exist for oral/ocular dryness, they may lack disease specificity.
• PROFAD and ESSPRI are disease-specific tools for dryness and fatigue; SSDAI, SCAI, ESSDAI, SSDDI, and SSDI are used for activity/chronicity but have limitations.

Conclusions:

• The heterogeneous nature and slow progression of SS present evaluation challenges.
• Composite measures could enhance diagnosis and assessment of disease activity and cumulative damage.
• Distinguishing between oral/ocular activity and damage remains an area for further research.