rss
Ann Rheum Dis 2009;68:1447-1452 doi:10.1136/ard.2008.096172
  • Clinical and epidemiological research
  • Extended report

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

This article has been Unlocked
  1. A Binard,
  2. L Le Pottier,
  3. V Devauchelle-Pensec,
  4. A Saraux,
  5. P Youinou,
  6. J-O Pers
  1. EA Immunologie et Pathologie, Université Européenne de Bretagne, et Université de Bretagne Occidentale, Brest, et Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Brest, Brest, France
  1. Correspondence to Professor P Youinou, Laboratory of Immunology, Brest University Medical School Hospital, BP 824, F29609 Brest, France; youinou{at}univ-brest.fr
  • Accepted 22 August 2008
  • Published Online First 9 September 2008

Abstract

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.

Footnotes

  • Funding This work was funded in part by the Association Française du Gougerot-Sjögren et des syndromes secs, and by the Institut Français pour la Recherche Odontologique.

  • Competing interests None.

This article has been Unlocked

This Article

  1. Free via Creative Commons: CC
  2. Abstract
  3. Full text
  4. PDF
  5. All versions of this article:
    1. ard.2008.096172v1
    2. 68/9/1447 most recent

Responses

  1. Submit a response
  2. No responses published

Register for free content

The full back archive is now available for all BMJ Journals. Institutional subscribers may access the entire archive as part of their subscription. Personal subscribers will also have access to all content when logged in. Non-subscribers who register have free access to all articles published before 2006 right back to volume 1 issue 1. Register here to access the free archive of all BMJ Journals.

Don't forget to sign up for content alerts so you keep up to date with all the articles as they are published.