Anti-Ro52 antibodies are a risk factor for interstitial lung disease in primary Sjögren syndrome

To determine whether anti-Ro52 antibodies are associated with ILD in pSS.

Retrospective study based on the presence or absence of anti-Ro52 antibodies in patients with pSS. Patients underwent chest HRCT at the time of diagnosis or during follow-up.

Sixty-eight patients were included. Two groups were defined by the presence (n = 31) or absence (n = 37) of anti-Ro52 antibodies. ILD was significantly higher in the presence of anti-Ro52 (41.9%, n = 13) versus in the anti-Ro52-negative group (16.2%, n = 6; p = 0.019). Multivariate analysis adjusted for anti-SSA/Ro60, anti-SSB antibodies and rheumatoid factor status confirmed that anti-Ro52 antibodies positivity is a predictive factor for ILD (p = 0.01). Nonspecific interstitial pneumonia was the most common pattern of ILD (31.6%). The majority of patients were diagnosed with pSS simultaneously to ILD (52.6%). In the anti-Ro52-negative group, no patients develop ILD after 5 years of follow-up.

In pSS, the risk of developing ILD is higher in the presence of anti-Ro52 antibodies. In patients with pSS and anti-Ro52 antibodies, a clinical screening and pulmonary functional tests with DLCO is necessary during the follow-up and should comprise chest HRCT if there is a decline in the DLCO or clinical symptoms or inspiratory crackles.