PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - A Binard
AU  - L Le Pottier
AU  - V Devauchelle-Pensec
AU  - A Saraux
AU  - P Youinou
AU  - J-O Pers
TI  - Is the blood B-cell subset profile diagnostic for Sjögren syndrome?
AID  - 10.1136/ard.2008.096172
DP  - 2009 Sep 01
TA  - Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases
PG  - 1447--1452
VI  - 68
IP  - 9
4099  - http://ard.bmj.com/content/68/9/1447.short
4100  - http://ard.bmj.com/content/68/9/1447.full
SO  - Ann Rheum Dis2009 Sep 01; 68
AB  - 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.