Salivary Gland Ultrasonography and Its Spplications in Patients with Sjögren's Syndrome and Sicca Symptoms: A Preliminary Report

Abstract

Objective: To assess the utility of salivary gland ultrasonography for Sjogren's syndrome and patients with sicca symptoms, including the correlations between clinical parameters and patients' symptoms. Methods: Patients that fulfilled the classification criteria proposed by American College of Rheumatology for primary Sjogren's syndrome and secondary Sjogren's syndrome, and patients with sicca symptoms were enrolled. A total of 25 patients were collected. Their clinical and serological data were obtained from medical records and laboratory databases. Salivary ultrasonography was performed for parotid glands and submandibular glands, and each gland was scored 0-4, with a total maximum score of 16. The EULAR Sjogren's Syndrome Patient Reported Index (ESSPRI) was arranged for evaluation of patient symptoms. Results: The median ESSPRI scores for primary Sjogren's syndrome and secondary Sjogren's syndrome, and for patients with sicca symptoms were 13.00 (IQR: 5.00-16.00), 11.00 (IQR: 7.00-15.00), and 10.50 (IQR: 5.50-19.75), respectively. The salivary gland ultrasonography score correlated with the serum anti- La/SSB (β-coefficient 0.022, p 0.026), total ESSPRI score (β-coefficient 0.337, p 0.02) and dryness score (β-coefficient 0.717, p 0.035), but not with the serum anti-Ro/SSA level, pain score, and fatigue score. Conclusion: Salivary ultrasonography provides a easy access for evaluation of the severity of salivary gland involvement in patients with Sjogren's syndrome and sicca symptoms, and correlates with the patients' clinical symptoms score and serum anti-La/SSB level; therefore, they may be parameters that can be used in evaluating patients with Sjogren's syndrome.