Clinical expression of primary Sjögren's syndrome in adult patients diagnosed at an age less than or equal to 35 years versus those older than 35 years

Abstract

Objective: to describe and compare the clinical manifestations, in adult patients diagnosed with primary Sjögren’s Syndrome at age less than or equal to 35 years versus those over 35 years of age. Materials and Methods: we analyzed the data of patients older than 18 years, with diagnosis of primary Sjögren’s syndrome (American-European criteria 2002), included in the GESSAR database (Sjögren Syndrome Study Group of the Argentine Society of Rheumatology). Results: 665 patients were included. One hundred of them with an age at diagnosis less than or equal to 35 years and with a mean age at diagnosis of 29 + 4 years, 92% of them women. The average age at diagnosis of the group over 35 years was 54 + 11 years, 96% women. Statistically significant differences were found between less than or equal to 35 years vs over 35 years, in xerophthalmia (90.72% vs 95.64%, p: 0.04) and xeroderma (42.35% vs 57.36% , p: 0.03), and in the following domains of ESSDAI (EULAR Activity Index for primary Sjögren’s syndrome): peripheral nervous system (4.05 vs 11.32, p: 0.03), respiratory (6% vs 15.40%, p : 0.01) and renal (6% vs. 1.59%, p: 0.02). Conclusion: our study suggests less glandular involvement in patients with pSS diagnosed at a younger age, without a characteristic differential pattern regarding systemic involvement.