Risk factors and clinical variables in GC+ and GC− patients
| Risk factors/clinical variables* | GC+ (n/% of available or mean (SD)) | GC− (n/% of available or mean (SD)) | p Value† |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lymphoma | 6/14% | 1/0.8% | 0.001 |
| Lymphadenopathy | 13/31% | 15/12% | 0.006 |
| Leucopaenia (<4000/mm3) | 13/37% | 17/17% | 0.019 |
| CD4 T lymphocytopaenia‡ | 8/26% | 11/14% | 0.16 |
| Cryoglobulinaema | 5/18% | 10/16% | 1.00 |
| Systemic disease§ | 30/74% | 57/51% | 0.007 |
| Total n involved organ systems¶ | 2.56 (1.62) | 1.58 (1.37) | <0.001 |
| Anti-Ro/SSA antibodies | 24/77% | 48/54% | 0.022 |
| Anti-La/SSB antibodies | 19/61% | 32/36% | 0.014 |
| ANA | 38/91% | 103/79% | 0.10 |
| RF | 27/68% | 63/51% | 0.07 |
| IgG (g/l)** | 18.3 (6.46) | 15.0 (5.17) | 0.003 |
| C4 (g/l)** | 0.22 (0.087) | 0.26 (0.083) | 0.015 |
| C3 (g/l)** | 0.98 (0.26) | 1.05 (0.25) | 0.17 |
↵* Ever present during disease course if not indicated otherwise.
↵† Pearson χ2 or Fisher's exact test as applicable.
↵‡ CD4 T lymphocytopaenia: either CD4 T cells less than 300 cells/ml or CD4 T cells less than 30% of total lymphocyte count or low CD4/CD8 ratio: 0.8 or less.
↵§ Non-exocrine disease manifestations during disease course including the European League Against Rheumatism Sjögren's Syndrome disease activity index (ESSDAI) domains12 but not fatigue, myalgia or arthralgia.
↵¶ According to ESSDAI domains.12
↵** First ever assessment.
ANA, antinuclear antibody; GC, germinal centre; RF, rheumatoid factor.