Search

Nashwa M Abd-Allah,1 Amal Aly Hassan,1 Gihan Omar,1 Mona Hamdy,1 Sahar Torky A Abdelaziz,2 Waleed Mahmoud Abd El Hamid,3 Rabab A Moussa4 1Rheumatology and Rehabilitation Department, Faculty of Medicine, Minia University, Minia, Egypt; 2Ophthalmology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Minia University, Minia, Egypt; 3Clinical Pathology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Minia University, Minia, Egypt; 4Pathology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Minia University, Minia, EgyptCorrespondence: Nashwa M Abd-AllahRheumatology and Rehabilitation Department, Faculty of Medicine, Minia University, New Minia City, first district, Youssef El-Sbaie Street, building (1), Minia 61511, EgyptTel +20 111 667 2116Email abdallahnashwa@yahoo.comPurpose: To assess the frequency of SjÓ§gren’s syndrome (SS), either primary or secondary to rheumatic disease, in a cohort of patients with aqueous-deficient dry eye and to determine the most accurate objective test for diagnosis of SS.Methods: A total of 111 patients with dry eye were recruited from Minia University’s ​Ophthalmology Outpatient Clinic (69 patients) and Rheumatology Outpatient Clinic (42 patients). The patients were screened for aqueous tear–deficient dry eye by abnormal test results of Schirmer test I (<10 mm) and tear-film break-up time (<10 seconds) in at least one eye. The diagnosis of SS was made according to the 2012 American College of Rheumatology​ criteria. A complete work up for SS was performed, including clinical examination, serological tests, ocular tests, and labial salivary–gland biopsy (LSGB).Results: Of the 111 patients, 58 had aqueous-deficient dry eye: 23 in the ophthalmology clinic cohort (group I) and 35 in the rheumatology clinic cohort (group II). Three patients had pSS, and its frequency was 13% in group I and 5.2% among all studied patients. The ocular staining score is the most diagnostic ocular test (sensitivity 100% and specificity 90.9%). Anti-SSA