RESEARCH - Development of additional autoimmune diseases in a population of patients with primary Sjogren's syndrome

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Ann Rheum Dis. 2005 Jul;64(7):1062-4.

Development of additional autoimmune diseases in a population of patients

with primary Sjogren's syndrome.

Lazarus MN, Isenberg DA.

Centre for Rheumatology, The Middlesex Hospital, University College London,

Arthur Stanley House, 40-50 Tottenham Street, London W1T 4NJ, UK.

BACKGROUND: To investigate whether patients with primary Sjogren's syndrome

(pSS) have an increased tendency to develop other autoimmune diseases.

METHODS: A retrospective case note review was carried out on 114 patients in

whom a diagnosis of pSS had been made in a department of rheumatology from

1979 onwards. The year of diagnosis of pSS was recorded, plus the diagnosis

and year of diagnosis of any other identified autoimmune disease. RESULTS:

Of the 114 patients with pSS, seven (6%) were male and 107 (94%) female.

Mean age at diagnosis of pSS was 53 years (range 21 to 83). Patients were

followed up for an average of 10.5 years (range 0 to 23). Thirty eight

patients (33.3%) were diagnosed as having another autoimmune disease, while

nine (7.9%) had two or more. Thirteen additional autoimmune diseases were

identified. Twenty five diagnoses (51.0%) were made before the diagnosis of

pSS, three (6.1%) within the same year, and 21 (42.9%) after the diagnosis.

Hypothyroidism was the most common autoimmune disease (n = 16).

CONCLUSIONS: Although pSS is a relatively benign condition, affected

individuals have an increased tendency to develop additional autoimmune

diseases. Patients with pSS should be monitored on a regular basis for such

diseases.

PMID: 15958760

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