Secondary Sjögren’s syndrome in patients with RA may be detectable with salivary gland ultrasound

Secondary Sjögren’s syndrome may be detected in patients with rheumatoid arthritis though ultrasound images of the salivary glands, according to recently published research.Thirty patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) were studied, of whom, 90% were women, 67% were nonsmokers and 27% were former smokers. Of the 29 patients who had available laboratory results, 69% were positive for rheumatoid factor (RF), 82% of 28 patients had antibodies to citrullinated proteins and 65% of 17 patients were positive for antinuclear antibodies.