To examine the prevalence of sicca symptoms in rheumatoid arthritis (RA)-patients, and to evaluate medical, salivary, and oral parameters in matched subgroups of patients with and without sicca symptoms as well as in healthy controls.
The prevalence of self-reported sicca symptoms was examined by a postal questionnaire in a representative cohort of RA-patients (n = 105, aged 52-74 years, disease duration 10-20 years, 77% females, 56% RF-positive). Patient subgroups and controls (9-10 in each group) underwent examinations of disease activity, blood analyses, tests of tear and salivary secretion, and examination of oral mucosa and microflora. Analyses of salivary acidic proline-rich proteins (PRPs), statherin and histatins were performed.
One or more sicca symptoms were reported by 65% of RA-patients. Sicca patients (having > or = 4 sicca symptoms) had a more active and severe disease with higher scores for disability, fatigue and tender joints than patients without such symptoms. Other significant findings in the sicca group were lower values of unstimulated whole saliva, output of PRPs, statherin and histatins in submandibular saliva, and higher counts of oral Candida species.
Sicca symptoms were prevalent in RA. Qualitative and quantitative salivary tests distinguished between sicca and non-sicca RA-patients, though overlap was considerable for some parameters.