To study the prevalence of Sjögren's syndrome (SS), tear and saliva production and sicca symptoms in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) seen six years after IBD diagnosis.
In a population based cohort of 654 patients with IBD, 521 patients (80%) and a control group consisting of 68 healthy subjects were investigated. SS was diagnosed according to the European Criteria proposed by the American-European Consensus Group (US-EU criteria) and the European criteria. Maximum (supposing positive biopsies) and minimum prevalences (supposing negative biopsies) were estimated.
Dryness of eyes and mouth were similarly distributed between patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD) and between patients and controls. The prevalence of SS was 0-4.2% and 0-5.7% (minimum-maximum) according to the US-EU criteria and the European criteria, respectively. The controls fulfilled neither of the criteria.
Sjögren's syndrome, sicca symptoms, tear and saliva production were not increased in patients with IBD compared to controls, indicating a lack of association between SS and IBD.