Dermatologic inflammatory compromise in patients with Sjögren Syndrome

Abstract

Objective: the dermatologie compromise of primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) can be non inflammatory or inflammatory. In the present study we examine the prevalance as well as clinical and immunological characteristics of the dermatologie inflammatory compromise in patients with pSS.

Methods: ninety five patients were followed during a period of 4.1± 0.7 years. The dermatologie inflammatory compromise was defined by the presence of erythema, urticaria or purpura. The characteristics between patients with and without this compromise were compared.

Results: twenty (21%) patients had inflammatory dermatologie compromise. The age of onset of the disease was earlier than in those who showed no dermatologie compromise (38 ± 3 years vs. 44 ± 1.6 years, p=0.05), and was seen early on during course of the disease. The most frequent lesions were purpura (35%) and urticarial vasculitis (30%). Skin biopsy was performed in 12 cases, with a leucocytoclastic vasculitis observed in 10 (83%) patients, a case with lymphocytic vasculitis and a nodular vasculitis. Of 16 patients being followed, 12 (75%) presented complete or partial recovery, 3 (2%) presented remissions-relapses. One patient with gammaglobulinemic purpura died.

Conclusion: the dermatologie inflammatory compromise in pSS is frequent, it is observed in young patients and early on during the course of the disease. It follows a variable course, having a good prognosis in the majority of cases.