RESEARCH - Is the blood B-cell subset profile diagnostic for primary Sjögren's syndrome?

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Ann Rheum Dis. Published Online First: 9 September 2008.

doi:10.1136/ard.2008.096172

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Extended Report

Is the blood B-cell subset profile diagnostic for Sjögren's syndrome?

Aymeric Binard 1, Laëtitia Le Pottier 1, Valérie Devauchelle-Pensec 1,

Alain Saraux 1, Pierre Youinou 1* and Jacques-Olivier Pers 1

1 Brest University Medical School Hospital, France

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the relevance of the blood B-cell subset

profile to the diagnosis of Sjögren's syndrome (SS).

Methods: The distribution of mature blood B cells from Bm1 through Bm5

was de-termined in 161 patients, of whom 25 fulfilled the

American-European Consensus Group criteria for primary SS (pSS), and

136 served as disease controls.

Results: The percentage of Bm2 and Bm2' cells was increased in the pSS

patients compared with the 54 rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and the 18

systemic lupus erythemato-sus (SLE) patients (p<10-4 for the 2

comparisons). In contrast, those of early Bm5 (eBm5) and Bm5 were

decreased in pSS patients, compared with RA, and SLE pa-tients (p<10-4

for the 2 comparisons). The receiver-operating characteristic curves

al-lowed for optimizing cut-off value of Bm2+Bm2' cells at 71.1% for

88.0% sensitivity (Se) and 83.1% specificity (Sp), that of Bm5+Bm5

cells at 13.5% for 84.0% Se and 83.1% Sp, and consequently that of

Bm2+Bm2'/eBm5+Bm5 at 5 for 88.0% Se and 84.6% Sp.

Conclusion: Given its presentation as a signature for pSS, relative to

RA and SLE, such a distribution of B-cell subsets might provide a

useful diagnostic tool.

http://ard.bmj.com/cgi/content/abstract/ard.2008.096172v1?papetoc

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