Clinical, serological, and HLA phenotype subsets in Sjögren's syndrome

The clinical and laboratory features of 89 patients with Sjögren's syndrome (SS) have been reviewed. Forty-eight of the patients had primary SS, of whom 27 had antibodies to Ro and/or La. The anti-Ro/La antibody positive patients showed a higher frequency of systemic clinical features, as well as high IgG levels and rheumatoid factors compared to those without the antibodies. Patients with SS-SLE developed symptoms of SS at the same age as those with primary SS but facial rashes, photosensitivity, and serositis were more common. Otherwise the clinical and laboratory features were indistinguishable from primary SS with anti-Ro/La. The frequency of HLA DR3 and HLA DRW 52 in European Caucasians with primary SS was 67% and 82% (92% in those with anti-Ro/La) respectively. DRW 53 occurred in 94% of all patients with SS-RA.