Sjögren's syndrome: association with type-1 diabetes mellitus

This study of 102 unselected type-1 diabetic patients has shown that sicca symptoms affect 55% of the patients, although sometimes only during hyperglycaemic phases. While these symptoms might be attributable to the diabetes, the frequency of antinuclear antibodies in those suspected of having Sjögren's (25% by HEp-2) and particularly anti-Ro antibodies (32% by ELISA) reinforces the suspicion that Sjögren's syndrome may underlie their presence.