Abstract: Showing why eye doctors need to be more aware of Sjogrens

Prevalence and predictors of Sjogren's syndrome in a prospective cohort of patients with aqueous-deficient dry eye.

AIMS:
To assess the prevalence and determine predictors of Sjögren's syndrome (SS) in patients with clinically significant aqueous-deficient dry eye.
METHODS:
Patients enrolled in an industry-sponsored, multicentre clinical trial (NCT00784719) were assessed prospectively for the presence of SS. Ocular testing included Schirmer test, corneal fluorescein staining, conjunctival lissamine green staining, and tear-film breakup time. Review of systems questionnaire, medical history, dry eye questionnaire and laboratory work-up (Sjögren-specific antibody A (SSA), Sjögren-specific antibody B (SSB), rheumatoid factor (RF) and antinuclear antibody (ANA)) were obtained.
RESULTS:
Of 327 patients, 38 (11.6%) had SS: 21 (6.4%) with primary SS (pSS), and 17 (5.2%) with secondary SS. Nine patients (3%) were newly diagnosed using the applied diagnostic criteria based on American-European consensus criteria. Patients with SS had significantly worse conjunctival and corneal staining, Schirmer test (with and without anaesthesia), and symptoms compared with patients without SS. pSS Was significantly more likely to occur in patients with positive ANA (OR: 13.9) and RF (OR: 4.8).
CONCLUSIONS:
Ophthalmologists caring for patients with clinically significant dry eye should have a high index of suspicion for underlying SS and low threshold for serological work-up. RF and ANA are recommended as useful tests in SSA/SSB-negative patients for further diagnostic referral.

Br J Ophthalmol. 2012 Dec;96(12):1498-503. doi: 10.1136/bjophthalmol-2012-301767. Epub 2012 Sep 21.

Liew MS, Zhang M, Kim E, Akpek EK.

Source

Department of Cornea and External Disease Service, Ocular Surface Diseases and Dry Eye Clinic, The Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, 600 N. Wolfe Street, Maumenee #317, Baltimore, MD 21287-9238, USA; esakpek@jhmi.edu.