OBJECTIVE: To study the relationship of the presence of secondary SS with disease activity, duration in RA. METHODS: Eighty two patients with RA were submitted to Schirmer test, minor salivary gland biopsy, questionnaire on sicca symptoms, DAS-28 4v determination. RESULTS: In this population, 20 (24.3%) patients fulfilled the American-European classification criteria for secondary SS. No relation could be found between the presence of secondary SS and disease activity (p = 0.31) and RA duration (p = 0.95). CONCLUSION: Appearance of Secondary SS in RA patients is independent of RA duration or activity.
Arthritis, rheumatoid; dry eye syndromes; inflammation
