%0 Journal Article %A A Binard %A L Le Pottier %A V Devauchelle-Pensec %A A Saraux %A P Youinou %A J-O Pers %T Is the blood B-cell subset profile diagnostic for Sjögren syndrome? %D 2009 %R 10.1136/ard.2008.096172 %J Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases %P 1447-1452 %V 68 %N 9 %X 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. %U https://ard.bmj.com/content/annrheumdis/68/9/1447.full.pdf