Characteristics of primary Sjögren's syndrome patients at inclusion
| Patients with pSS, ACPA+, n=16 | Patients with pSS, ACPA−, n=278 | p Value | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Demographic characteristics | |||
| Sex, female, n (%) | 14 (87.5) | 263 (94.6) | 0.234 |
| Age, median (minimum–maximum) | 52 (33–71) | 55 (23–81) | 0.598 |
| Positive anti-SSA antibodies, n (%) | 10 (62.5) | 186 (66.9) | 0.787 |
| Positive anti-SSB antibodies, n (%) | 6 (37.5) | 96 (34.5) | 0.793 |
| AECG criteria, median number (minimum-maximum) | 4 (3–6) | 4 (3–6) | 1.000 |
| Glandular involvement | |||
| Subjective xerostomia, n (%) | 15 (93.7) | 260 (93.5) | 1.000 |
| Objective xerostomia, n/n (%) | 5/12 (41.6) | 63/139 (45.3) | 1.000 |
| Subjective xerophtalmia, n (%) | 14 (87.5) | 259 (93.2) | 0.319 |
| Objective xerophtalmia, n/n (%) | 9/14 (64.3) | 139/260 (53.4) | 0.584 |
| Lymphocytic sialadenitis (focus score ≥1), n/n (%) | 14/15 (93.3) | 231/263 (87.8) | 1.000 |
| Articular manifestations | |||
| Arthralgia, n/n (%) | 11/16 (68.7) | 194/272 (71.3) | 0.783 |
| Arthritis, n/n (%) | 7/16 (43.7) | 33/270 (12.2) | 0.003 |
| Extra-articular manifestations | |||
| Pulmonary, n/n (%) | 4/16 (25.0) | 22/270 (8.1) | 0.046 |
| Neurological, n/n (%) | 2/16 (12.5) | 22/271 (8.1) | 0.632 |
| Cutaneous, n/n (%) | 2/16 (12.5) | 31/268 (11.6) | 1.000 |
| Cryoglobulinemia, n/n (%) | 0/16 (0.0) | 6/257 (2.3) | 1.000 |
| Past or present use of DMARDs | |||
| Methotrexate, n/n (%) | 2/15 (13.3) | 16/267 (5.9) | 0.247 |
| Hydroxychloroquine, n/n (%) | 8/15 (53.3) | 108/267 (40.4) | 0.420 |
Anti-SSA, antiSjögren's syndrome A; anti-SSB, antiSjögren's syndrome B; ACPA, anticitrullinated protein antibodies; AECG criteria, American-European Consensus group criteria for the diagnosis of SS;43 DMARDs, disease modifiying antirheumatic rugs.