Clinical manifestations and histopathological/laboratory/serological features in the 2 groups of patients. Values are n (%).
| Variables | pSS non-MALT, n = 57 | pSS-MALTδ, n = 19 | p |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clinical manifestations | |||
| Oral dryness (subjective) | 46/57 (81) | 18/19 (95) | 0.274 |
| Ocular dryness (subjective) | 43/57 (75) | 17/19 (89) | 0.330 |
| SGE | 13/57 (23) | 11/19 (58) | 0.009 |
| Raynaud phenomenon | 13/57 (23) | 7/19 (37) | 0.243 |
| Palpable purpura | 5/57 (9) | 2/19 (10) | 1.000 |
| Arthralgias/myalgias | 35/55 (64) | 14/19 (73) | 0.576 |
| Arthritis | 10/57 (17) | 4/19 (21) | 0.740 |
| Lymphadenopathy | 3/57 (5) | 5/19 (26) | 0.020 |
| Histopathological/laboratory/serological features | |||
| MSG biopsy focus score ≥ 1 | 29/57 (51) | 17/19 (89) | 0.003 |
| MSG biopsy Tarpley score > 2 | 17/57 (30) | 17/19 (89) | < 0.001 |
| Leukopenia* | 6/56 (11) | 2/19 (10) | 1.000 |
| ANA-positive† | 36/57 (63) | 16/19 (84) | 0.153 |
| C4 hypocomplementemia◊ | 27/51 (53) | 9/17 (53) | 1.000 |
| Anti-Ro/SSA- and/or anti-La/SSB-positive | 36/57 (63) | 14/19 (74) | 0.235 |
| RF-positive | 26/57 (46) | 16/19 (84) | 0.001 |
| Monoclonal gammopathy | 0/44 (0) | 5/17 (29) | 0.001 |
↵δ pSS-MALT: pSS patients with MALT lymphoma, matched 1:3 for age, sex, and disease duration with pSS non-MALT patients.
↵* Defined as white blood cells < 3000/mm3 on 3 separate occasions.
↵† Titers > 1:160.
↵◊ Defined as serum C4 levels < 20 mg/dl on 3 separate occasions. Values in bold face are statistically significant. pSS: primary Sjögren syndrome; MALT: mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue; SGE: salivary gland enlargement; MSG: minor salivary gland; ANA: antinuclear antibodies; RF: rheumatoid factor.