Main features of patients with pSS with SpA according to the anti-SSA status.
| SSA+, n = 14 | SSA-, n = 9 | Total, n = 23 | P | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age, yrs, median [range] | 41.6 [15–65] | 46.9 [30–59] | 43.7 [15–65] | 0.29 |
| Sex, female | 13 (93) | 9 (100) | 22 (96) | > 0.99 |
| Familial history | ||||
| Autoimmune disease | 2 (14) | 1 (11) | 3 (13) | > 0.99 |
| SpA, IBD, and/or PsO | 5 (36) | 4 (44) | 9 (39) | > 0.99 |
| Clinical characteristics of pSS | ||||
| Eye dryness | 12 (86) | 9 (100) | 21 (91) | 0.50 |
| Mouth dryness | 13 (93) | 9 (100) | 22 (96) | > 0.99 |
| Dryness complication | 4 (29) | 5 (56) | 9 (39) | 0.38 |
| Extraarticular/extraglandular manifestations | 5 (36) | 4 (44) | 9 (39) | 0.55 |
| Peripheral articular manifestations | ||||
| Arthralgia | 14 (100) | 9 (100) | 23 (100) | > 0.99 |
| Arthritis | 12 (86) | 8 (89) | 20 (87) | > 0.99 |
| Heel enthesitis | 9 (64) | 8 (89) | 17 (74) | 0.34 |
| Dactylitis | 1 (7) | 1 (11) | 2 (9) | > 0.99 |
| Axial articular manifestations | ||||
| Inflammatory back pain | 12 (86) | 6 (67) | 18 (78) | 0.34 |
| Sacroiliac pain | 12 (86) | 9 (100) | 21 (91) | 0.50 |
| Chest pain | 4 (29) | 4 (44) | 8 (35) | 0.66 |
| Type of SpA | ||||
| AS | 2 (14) | 4 (44) | 6 (26) | 0.16 |
| PsA | 12 (86) | 5 (56) | 17 (74) | 0.16 |
| Radiographic abnormalities | ||||
| Sacroiliitis | 9 (64) | 6 (67) | 15 (65) | > 0.99 |
| Spine lesion | 4 (29) | 2 (22) | 6 (26) | > 0.99 |
| Immunological data | ||||
| ANA titer ≥ 160 | 13 (93) | 7 (78) | 20 (87) | 0.54 |
| ANA titer, mean [range] | 788 [160–1280] | 400 [160–1280] | 652 [160–1280] | 0.08 |
| Low complement fractions | 2 (14) | 0 (0) | 2 (9) | 0.50 |
| Hypergammaglobulinemia | 9 (64) | 2 (22) | 11 (48) | 0.09 |
| Positive RF | 5 (36) | 1 (11) | 6 (26) | 0.34 |
| Cryoglobulinemia | 2/8 (25) | 0 (0) | 2/13 (15) | 0.47 |
| Focal sialadenitis and FS ≥ 1 | 3/11 (27) | 9/9 (100) | 12/20 (60) | 0.001* |
| HLA-B27 | 0/14 (0) | 3/9 (33) | 3/23 (13) | 0.02* |
| Treatment | ||||
| HCQ | 10 (71) | 7 (78) | 17 (74) | > 0.99 |
| NSAID | 7 (50) | 6 (67) | 13 (57) | 0.67 |
| CS | 7 (50) | 4 (44) | 11 (48) | > 0.99 |
| DMARD | 9 (64) | 7 (78) | 16 (70) | 0.66 |
| Biotherapy | ||||
| Anti-TNF | 7 (50) | 6 (67) | 13 (57) | 0.67 |
| Secukinumab | 3 (21) | 3 (33) | 6 (26) | 0.64 |
| Other | 1 (7) | 3 (33) | 4 (17) | 0.26 |
Values are expressed as n (%) unless stated otherwise.
↵*P < 0.05. ANA: antinuclear antibody; AS: ankylosing spondylitis; CS: corticosteroids; DMARD: disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs; FS: focus score; HCQ: hydroxychloroquine; IBD: inflammatory bowel disease; NSAID: nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug; PsA: psoriatic arthritis; PsO: psoriasis; pSS: primary Sjögren syndrome; RF: rheumatoid factor; SpA: spondyloarthritis; TNF: tumor necrosis factor.