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Published Online First: 9 September 2008. doi:10.1136/ard.2008.096172
Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases 2009;68:1447-1452
Copyright © 2009 BMJ Publishing Group Ltd & European League Against Rheumatism.

CLINICAL AND EPIDEMIOLOGICAL RESEARCH

Extended report

Is the blood B-cell subset profile diagnostic for Sjögren syndrome?

A Binard, L Le Pottier, V Devauchelle-Pensec, A Saraux, P Youinou, J-O Pers

EA Immunologie et Pathologie, Université Européenne de Bretagne, et Université de Bretagne Occidentale, Brest, et Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Brest, Brest, France

Correspondence to Professor P Youinou, Laboratory of Immunology, Brest University Medical School Hospital, BP 824, F29609 Brest, France; youinou{at}univ-brest.fr

Objective: To evaluate the relevance of the blood B-cell subset profile for the diagnosis of Sjögren syndrome.

Methods: The distribution of mature blood B cells from Bm1 through Bm5 was determined in 161 patients, of whom 25 fulfilled the American–European Consensus Group criteria for primary SS (pSS), and 136 served as disease controls.

Results: The percentage of Bm2 and Bm2' cells was increased in the patients with pSS compared with 54 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and 18 with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) (p<0.001 for the two comparisons). In contrast, those of early Bm5 (eBm5) and Bm5 were decreased in patients with pSS, compared with patients with RA and with SLE (p<0.001 for the two comparisons). The receiver operating characteristic curves allowed for an optimising cut-off value of Bm2+Bm2' cells at 71.1% for 88.0% sensitivity and 83.1% specificity, that of eBm5+Bm5 cells at <=13.5% for 84.0% sensitivity and 83.1% specificity, and, consequently, that of Bm2+Bm2'/eBm5+Bm5 at >=5 for 88.0% sensitivity and 84.6% specificity.

Conclusion: Given its presentation as a signature for pSS, relative to RA and SLE, such a distribution of B-cell subsets might provide a useful diagnostic tool.


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