To identify whether or not there are clinical markers that correlate with Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection in patients with Sjogren's syndrome (SS) and its implication to handling this group of patients.
Four groups of patients were studied. Group 1, 36 patients with primary SS; group 2, 31 patients with secondary SS; group 3, 46 patients with various connective tissue diseases not suffering from sicca symptoms, and group 4, 64 healthy controls. Clinical assessment was done and a score for disease manifestation was given for every SS patient. Serum IgG and IgM antibodies to H. pylori were assessed by ELISA.
The prevalence and mean titer of H. pylori infection in patients with SS in group 1 (80.6%) and 2 (71%) were significantly higher than in group 3 (60.9%) and 4 (56.3%) (P < 0.01). There was significant correlation between H. pylori infection and age, disease duration, global score for disease status and C-reactive protein (CRP) in SS patients. On the other hand, there was no significant correlation with body mass index, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR).
Patients with SS are more prone to have H. pylori infection in comparison to other connective tissue diseases. Serum antibody titer to H. pylori correlated with index for clinical disease manifestations, age, disease duration and CRP. Assessment of H. pylori infection in older patients suffering from active SS for a relatively long duration is recommended, especially those suffering form primary SS for more than 3 years.