The natural clinical course of primary Sjögren's syndrome was followed in 8 patients to identify the concomitant functional, clinical, biological, scintigraphic and histological manifestations of the disease.
The diagnosis of primary Sjögren's syndrome was made on the basis of functional signs (ocular or salivary sicca syndrome) and 2 positive tests among the 3 objective ocular tests (Schirmer's test, break-up time, Rose Bengale). Work-up included recording of functional and clinical signs, ophthalmologic examination and laboratory tests at diagnosis and every 3 months for 12 months. Scintigraphy of the salivary glands was performed together with a biopsy at diagnosis and at 12 months.
No one parameter varied significantly over a 1 year period demonstrating the lack of need for renewed examinations for diagnosis or regular follow-up.
This is the first report providing a homogeneous series studied by one team over a determined period of time. It demonstrates that clinical, biological and anatomic criteria for primary Sjögren's syndrome do not show any correlation between functional signs and objective ocular tests.