[The autoantibody profile in Sjögren's syndrome]

The serological profiles of 54 patients clinically diagnosed as pSS and 92 RA patients with or without sSS were retrospectively evaluated and correlated with different SS subgroups, degree of minor salivary gland biopsy lymphocytic infiltrates, and the presence of glandular and extraglandular manifestations. Anti-Ro, anti-La and RF correlated with the development of pSS, while in RA, ANA and anti-Ro were associated with the presence of sSS, and anti-La were practically absent. In pSS patients the incidence of anti Ro and anti-La as well as the titers of ANA and RF correlated with a degree of salivary lymphocytic infiltrates (1+ to 3+). In class 4+ a substantial decrease in autoantibodies was noted. In pSS patients anti-Ro and anti-La correlated with earlier disease onset and longer disease duration, recurrent parotid gland enlargement (RPGE) and extraglandular manifestations, particularly splenomegaly and/or lymphadenopathy and vasculitis. Anti-Ro correlated with positive Schirmer's test, ANA with decreased parotid flow rate and extraglandular manifestations, whereas RF correlated with RPGE and subjective xerostomia. In RA patients autoantibodies were mainly found in the presence of xerophthalmia. ANA correlated with positive Schirmer's test, Rose-Bengal staining and subjective xerophthalmia, the latter also correlated with anti-Ro. This study reemphasized the diagnostic importance of autoantibodies for SS.