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Hand osteoarthritis may be more prevalent in patients with pSS than SLE
A recently published analysis showed patients with primary Sjögren’s syndrome were more likely to have hand osteoarthritis than patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.
Of 114 patients studied with primary Sjögren’s syndrome (pSS), 110 had arthralgia and two patients had arthritis in their hand joints, including the bilateral distal interphalangeal, proximal interphalangeal, metacarpophalangeal, thumb interphalangeal and thumb base joints. Antinuclear antibodies (ANA) were positive in 75 of patients with pSS. In addition, 33 of 101 patients tested were rheumatoid factor-positive, and three of 57 patients tested had anti-citrullinated peptide antibodies. Sixty-three patients had anti-Ro/SSA antibodies, and anti-La/SSB antibodies were positive in 32 patients. Of 88 patients who had minor salivary gland biopsies, 81 had positive results.
Hand radiographs were performed in 114 patients with pSS and compared to 34 patients with SLE. Hand osteoarthritis (OA) was detected on radiographs in 42.7% of patients with pSS and 16% of the patients had erosive arthritis. Investigators found 14.7% of patients with SLE had hand OA and none had erosive arthritis.
The frequency of hand OA in patients with pSS was associated with increased age, while smoking and ANA-positivity were less frequently associated with erosive arthritis. No other antibody profiles or markers of inflammation were associated between patients with or without erosive hand OA. – by Shirley Pulawski
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.