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Study evaluates inflammation markers in Sjogren's patients
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SAN DIEGO – Female patients with Sjogren’s syndrome have significantly higher white blood cell counts than their male counterparts, according to a study presented Sunday at the annual Academy of Optometry meeting here.
The study, presented by Barbara Caffrey, OD, was aimed at understanding the difference in inflammation markers in the serum of male and female dry eye patients. “One of the problems in analyzing sex differences in this disease is that very few men have Sjogren’s syndrome,” Dr. Caffrey said. “Clinical wisdom is that women have higher serum levels of inflammatory markers.”
Through a retrospective chart review, the study looked at 185 Sjogren’s syndrome patients seen at the Toronto Western Hospital. Serum was collected from the patients. Several factors were analyzed, including immunoglobulin A (IgA), monoclonal antibodies, white blood cell count (WBC), antinuclear antibodies (ANA), rheumatoid factor (RF) and smooth muscle antibodies (SMA). T-tests and chi-squared tests were used to compare the parameters.
The study found that among the 170 females and 15 males analyzed, there were no differences in the amounts of monoclonal antibodies, ANA, RF, SMA and IgA. There was a significant difference in the WBC counts, with males showing a count of 3.7+/-1.8, and females with a count of 5.2+/-2.1.