The aim was to investigate prevalence and degree of ocular and oral involvement in patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome (PSS).
We analysed 134 participants from the Korean Initiative of PSS cohort who completed a 2 year follow-up oral and ocular sign test. The severity of keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS) was determined with the Schirmer I test value (STV) [abnormal (AB) ≤ 5 mm/5 min; normal (N) > 5 mm/5 min]. Salivary gland dysfunction (SGD) was determined by unstimulated whole salivary (UWS) flow rate [moderate to severe (MS) < 0.1 mL/min; mild (Mi) ≥ 0.1 mL/min]. Subgroups were divided into three groups according to STV and severity of SGD: AB-STV/MS-SGD, AB-STV/Mi-SGD, and N-STV/MS-SGD groups. We analysed the changes in STV and SGD during the follow-up period.
Among the 134 participants enrolled in this study, 105 (78%) were placed in the AB-STV/MS-SGD group, 16 (12%) in the AB-STV/Mi-SGD, and 13 (10%) in the N-STV/MS-SGD at the 2 year follow-up. The AB-STV/Mi-SGD group was younger than the other two groups, and had a lower Xerostomia Inventory score and lower level of β
Patients with PSS and positive RF or ANA ≥ 1:320 at baseline may benefit from regular ophthalmology examinations, even if they do not have KCS at baseline or dry eye symptoms.