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Introduction: There have been concerns that longstanding oral dryness secondary to Sjogren's syndrome may increase the risk of failure of dental implants., Aims: The aim of the present study was to determine the level of methodological quality of systematic reviews that evaluated the effectiveness of dental implants in patients diagnosed with Sjogren's syndrome., Methods and Results: Databases of PubMed/Medline, LILACS, Science Direct and Dare Cochrane to October 2020 were evaluated. A total of 833 articles were initially identified but following use of appropriate inclusion and exclusion criteria 4 papers were identified for detailed analysis. An eventual study sample comprised 722 implants placed in 189 patients with a 95.22% success rate, the minimum follow-up time was 45.2 ± 23.8 months and the maximum 125.5 months. The studies were assessed for their methodological quality by the AMSTAR 2 tool, in which 3 had critically low quality and one low quality., Conclusion: Oral rehabilitation with dental implants in patients with Sjogren's syndrome seems to have a high success rate; however, the low quality of relevant reports highlights the need for primary and secondary studies with better methodological design in order to reduce bias and provide reassurance for this treatment option., (© 2021 Special Care Dentistry Association and Wiley Periodicals LLC.) more...

Introduction: The role of viral infections in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases has long been suggested, but little evidence is available., Objective: This study aimed to evaluate an association between EBV and CMV and the presence of rheumatoid arthritis and its association with Sjögren's Syndrome., Patients and Method: A case-control study was performed with 227 patients divided in RA (n = 99), RA/SS (n = 20), and C (n = 128). Resting salivary flow rate and Schirmer's test were performed; minor salivary gland biopsy was indicated in the case of suspected Sjögren's syndrome. CMV and EBV viral loads were quantified in peripheral blood, and their presence in glandular tissue samples was evaluated by in situ hybridization (EBV) and immunohistochemistry (CMV)., Results: EBV was more frequent in RA and RA/SS than in C (P < .000007). No correlation with clinical markers (P > .05) or between RA and RA/SS was found (P > .05). A higher number of EBV/DNA copies were found in RA (158.52 copies/μL) and RA/SS (99.24 copies/μL) (P = .739). EBV/DNA was associated with the Schirmer test (P = .0231). CMV was detected in one patient of the RA group. None of the viruses were detected in biopsies of minor salivary glands., Conclusions: Detection of EBV/DNA in peripheral blood was associated with RA regardless of the presence of SS., (© 2020 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.) more...

Benign lymphoepithelial lesions (BLLs) usually affect the parotid glands, resulting in their asymmetrical enlargement. The condition can be associated with Sjögren's syndrome (SS), which in turn may predispose the affected patient to the development of malignant lymphoma. BLLs arising in the intraoral minor salivary glands are rare; such a lesion should prompt the work-up for SS. In some instances, a BLL of a minor salivary gland could represent the initial stage of a mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma. A case of BLL arising in the palatal minor salivary glands is reported here. The importance of an appropriate diagnostic work-up is emphasized and the relationship of BLL with SS is reinforced., (Copyright © 2016 International Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.) more...

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of Th17 polymorphisms on the susceptibility or severity of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and Sjögren's syndrome (SS)., Materials and Methods: The study sample comprised 206 individuals of both genders divided into three groups: exclusive rheumatoid arthritis (RA-100 patients), rheumatoid arthritis and Sjögren's syndrome (RA/SS-31 patients), and healthy controls (C-75 individuals). All the individuals were submitted to clinical evaluation, unstimulated sialometry, and Schirmer test; some patients with RA were also submitted to minor salivary gland biopsy for definition of SS diagnosis. Saliva samples were collected for isolation of DNA and genotyping of Th17 genes; IL-17A (-197G/A) and IL-17F (7488T/C)., Results: IL-17A (-197G/A) and IL-17F (7488T/C) SNPs were not associated with susceptibility to RA or secondary SS (sSS, p > 0.05 for both SNPs). In addition, they did not influence RA activity or clinical markers of SS., Conclusion: IL-17A (-197G/A) and IL-17F (7488T/C) polymorphisms are not associated with the susceptibility nor to the severity of RA and sSS in the studied population., Clinical Relevance: A better understanding of the pathogenesis of SS is demanded to an adequate treatment as well as to the development of new management strategies. more...

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical relevance of rheumatoid factor (RF) and antibodies against cyclic citrullinated peptides (anti-CCP) in patients with Sjögren syndrome (SS) secondary to rheumatoid arthritis (RA)., Methods: The study included 118 individuals, and the subjects were divided into three groups: rheumatoid arthritis (RA; n = 46), RA with secondary Sjögren syndrome (RA/SS; n = 20) and healthy controls (C; n = 52). Clinical and laboratory characteristics, including ocular, oral, and serum markers, anti-CCP, and rheumatoid factor (RF), were compared in addition to biopsy of labial minor salivary glands., Results: The RA group exhibited unstimulated salivary flow rate, and Schirmer test results were similar to those for C and higher than those for RA/SS (P < .05). Furthermore, the frequency of xerophthalmia and xerostomia was similar among the RA and C groups, and much higher in the RA/SS group (P < .05). Anti-CCP positivity and serum levels were similar in both RA groups, irrespective of SS diagnosis (RA × RA/SS; P > .05). RF presented a similar frequency and serum level between the RA and RA/SS groups (P > .05)., Conclusions: Secondary SS seems to be a cluster of oral and ocular symptoms among patients with RA. Anti-CCP and RF are not relevant to evaluate the presence of SS among these patients., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.) more...

Background: Sjogren's syndrome is characterized by T-cell infiltration of exocrine glands leading to parenchymal destruction and impaired glandular function. This process is orchestrated by cytokines, whose secretion can be regulated by genetic polymorphisms., Materials and Methods: The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of interleukin-6 -174G/C, interleukin-10 -1082G/A, tumor necrosis factor-α -308G/A, interferon-γ +874A/T gene polymorphisms in (RA) and secondary Sjögren's syndrome (sSS). A study sample that comprised of 138 Brazilian patients was divided into three groups: RA (n = 66), sSS (n = 20), and healthy controls - C (n = 52). Patients were subjected to Schirmer's test, unstimulated salivary flow rate, biopsy of minor salivary glands, and serological tests for diagnosing SS. Genomic DNA was obtained from saliva samples and submitted to genotyping. The association between genotypes/alelle frequency and SS susceptibility was tested, as well as their association with clinical features of SS., Results: Tumor necrosis factorα (TNFα)-308GA polymorphisms differed significantly between AR, SS, and C patients (P = 0.008). IL-6 overall G carriers and TNFα A carriers had a higher risk of presenting SS (P = 0.021). IL-6 polymorphism distribution was also distinctive regarding lymphocytic infiltration at the minor salivary glands (P = 0.026) and Schirmer's test (P = 0.035)., Conclusion: These results suggest that IL-6 -174GC and TNFα-308GA gene polymorphisms are associated with susceptibility to SS. Additionally, IL-6 polymorphism could influence lymphocytic infiltration of salivary glands and diminish lachrymal gland function., (© 2014 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.) more...

Juvenile Sjögren's syndrome is a rare condition that affects children and adolescents with distinctive clinical features. Parotid swelling usually precedes regular oral and ocular symptoms, while typical serological findings may be absent. Hence, diagnosing juvenile Sjögren's syndrome may be challenging to the attending pediatric dentist, and long-term management without proper diagnosis may be jeopardized. The purpose of this report was to detail the features of an adolescent with primary Sjögren's syndrome diagnosed 12 years after the onset of the disease. An updated literature review highlighted the unusual aspects of the pediatric form of the disease. more...