Raynaud's phenomenon in primary Sjögren's syndrome. Association with other extraglandular manifestations

Abstract

One hundred and four patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome (SS) were evaluated for the presence (29%) or absence of Raynaud's phenomenon (RP). The clinical course of RP was, in general, benign and caused no vascular sequelae. In patients with primary SS having RP, nonerosive arthritis, vasculitis and pulmonary fibrosis were significantly more frequent than in those without RP. Myositis also appeared more frequently associated with RP, but the difference reached statistical significance only when combined in meta-analysis with 2 other comparable series. There were no differences in the autoantibody profiles of the 2 groups.