Evaluation of changes in oral health-related quality of life over time in patients with Sjögren's syndrome.

OBJECTIVES: To assess oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) and changes in OHRQoL in 3 years of patients with Sjögren's symdrome (SS). METHODS: Thirty-five SS patients and 23 non-SS individuals were enrolled. OHRQoL were quantitatively evaluated using the shortened Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14). After 3 years, 22 patients and 14 controls tool the OHIP-14 survey again. RESULTS: The SS group had a significantly higher OHIP-14 score, which indicated a lower OHRQoL, than the non-SS group. Among individual questions in the OHIP-14, scores for 'trouble pronouncing words', 'uncomfortable to eat foods', 'self-conscious', and 'diet unsatisfactory' were markedly higher in the SS group than in the non-SS group. The OHIP-14 score significantly increased in 3 years in the SS group. Furthermore, there was an inverse correlation between the change rate of salivary flow rate and change of OHIP-14 scores in 3 years in patients with SS whose OHIP-14 score increased. Scores for 'irritable with other people', 'difficulty doing usual jobs', 'felt life less satisfying', and 'unable to function' significantly increased in 3 years. CONCLUSION: In SS, OHRQoL decreased in 3 years, which was associated with a decrease in saliva secretion. Moreover, troubles related to psychosocial aspects in SS patients were found to intensify over time.

Effectiveness of resistance exercise in functional fitness in women with primary Sjögren's syndrome: randomized clinical trial.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to analyse the effectiveness of resistance exercise in functional fitness in women with primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS).Method: This is a randomized controlled clinical trial with 51 volunteers: 26 allocated to the exercise group (GEX) and 25 to the control group. The GEX underwent a supervised resistance-training programme for 16 weeks, with two sessions per week. The outcomes measured were: functional capacity (FC), by the Fullerton Functional Fitness Test; Daily Motor Activity Index (DMAI), evaluated by an actigraph; disease activity, by the ESSDAI; and quality of life, by the 36-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36). The evaluations were performed by a blind evaluator at baseline (TØ) and after 16 weeks (T16wk).Results: In the GEX, all FC parameters demonstrated improvement, except for the upper limb flexibility test (p = 0.866): upper and lower limb strength, flexibility, aerobic capacity, and agility (all p < 0.01). A similar situation occurred in the SF-36, where all domains demonstrated improvement except for the emotional aspect (p = 0.710): FC, physical aspects limitation, general health status, vitality, social aspects, and mental health (all p < 0.01). The DMAI (p = 0.2) and EULAR Sjögren's Syndrome Disease Activity Index (ESSDAI) (p = 0.284) did not change. No significant improvement was observed in the control group.Conclusion: The supervised resistance exercise programme did not worsen the DMAI or disease activity, demonstrating the safety of the intervention, and was effective in improving FC and quality of life in women with pSS.Registry identifier (clinical trials.gov): NCT03130062.

Prosthodontic rehabilitation in Sjogren's syndrome with a simplified palatal reservoir: two year follow up.

PATIENTS: A 45-year-old female patient came to the institute complaining of reduced salivation, pain and food lodgment in multiple teeth, and difficulty in eating. The systemic examination revealed dry eyes, dry mouth, cracking of corners of mouth and lack of appetite. The diagnostic tests were conclusive of Sjogren's syndrome, which is associated with xerostomia, ocular dryness and connective tissue disorders. Major oral problems in such patients include high caries rate, burning of oral mucosa, early tooth loss, increased tooth wear, poor tolerance for dentures and repeated failure of dental restorations. DISCUSSION: Prosthodontic therapy for this unique patient group is challenging and neglected, due to limited choice of abutments, loss of vertical dimension and poor occlusion. Two-year follow up of a patient of Sjogren's syndrome who was rehabilitated by a combination of fixed and removable prostheses, with a simplified palatal salivary reservoir is presented. CONCLUSION: Though the patient felt an improvement in quality of life due to the prosthesis, slurred speech and frequent reservoir refilling remained problems.

Impact of primary Sjogren's syndrome on smell and taste: effect on quality of life.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the prevalence of abnormal smell and taste perception in people with primary SS and the effect on quality of life (QoL). METHODS: Twenty-eight participants with SS and 37 controls were enrolled in a cohort-matched, prospective, cross-sectional study. Smell and taste thresholds were measured using standardized, validated tests. QoL was assessed by the Short Form 12 (SF-12). RESULTS: Smell threshold was reduced by 1 point (P = 0.002; 95% CI 0.35, 1.54) and taste threshold was reduced by 3.5 points (P < 0.001; 95% CI 1.80, 5.22) in the SS group compared with controls. The physical and mental components of SF-12 were reduced by 14.2 points (P < 0.001; 95% CI 9.47, 19.02) and 7.5 points (P = 0.002; 95% CI 2.97, 12.02), respectively, in the SS group compared with controls. Taste threshold was significantly correlated with both the physical (r = 0.48; P < 0.001) and the mental (r = 0.30; P = 0.015) components of SF-12. Smell threshold correlated with the physical (r = 0.457; P < 0.001), but not the mental component (r = 0.154; P = 0.222) of SF-12. CONCLUSIONS: Clinically important impairment of chemosensory perception occurred in the SS group compared with age- and gender-matched controls. Assessment using SF-12 suggests that this impairment contributed to the reduced health-related QoL that characterized these individuals.

Health-related quality of life, employment and disability in patients with Sjogren's syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: To compare health-related quality of life (HR-QOL), employment and disability of primary and secondary SS (pSS and sSS, respectively) patients with the general Dutch population. METHODS: HR-QOL, employment and disability were assessed in SS patients regularly attending the University Medical Center Groningen (n = 235). HR-QOL, employment and disability were evaluated with the Short Form-36 questionnaire (SF-36) and an employment and disability questionnaire. Results were compared with Dutch population data (matched for sex and age). Demographical and clinical data associated with HR-QOL, employment and disability were assessed. RESULTS: Response rate was 83%. SS patients scored lower on HR-QOL than the general Dutch population. sSS patients scored lower on physical functioning, bodily pain and general health than pSS patients. Predictors for reduced HR-QOL were fatigue, tendomyalgia, articular involvement, use of artificial saliva, use of anti-depressants, comorbidity, male sex and eligibility for disability compensation (DC). Employment was lower and DC rates were higher in SS patients compared with the Dutch population. CONCLUSION: SS has a large impact on HR-QOL, employment and disability.

Effects of exercise on aerobic capacity and fatigue in women with primary Sjogren's syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of a moderate to high intensive exercise program on two primary outcomes (aerobic capacity, fatigue), and three secondary outcomes [anxiety, depression and health-related quality of life (HRQoL)] in women with primary Sjögren's syndrome (primary SS). METHODS: Twenty-one women with primary SS were ranked according to degree of fatigue and allocated to an exercise group (TG; n = 11) or a control group (CG; n = 10). The exercise method was Nordic walking for 45 min three times a week for 12 weeks. Outcome measures assessed at baseline and after 12 weeks were aerobic capacity, fatigue, ratings of perceived exertion (RPE), anxiety, depression and HRQoL. RESULTS: Nine women in the TG and 10 women in the CG completed the study. Analysis showed significant differences between the groups regarding aerobic capacity (P = 0.03), fatigue (P = 0.03), RPE (P = 0.03), and depression (P = 0.02) with the better values for the TG. There were no differences in anxiety or HRQoL. CONCLUSION: Our findings support the use of appropriate aerobic exercise in the treatment of primary SS.

The role of exercise in the rehabilitation of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The purpose of this review is to present an update on the evidence-based effects of exercise in systemic lupus erythematosus and in primary Sjögren's syndrome. RECENT FINDINGS: Physical capacity is reduced in both systemic lupus erythematosus and primary Sjögren's syndrome and fatigue is a dominating and disabling symptom in both conditions. The documentation on the effect of exercise on the rehabilitation of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and primary Sjögren's syndrome is sparse; the studies are few and the sample sizes often small. The available studies indicate that patients with systemic lupus erythematosus of mild to moderate disease activity as well as patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome benefit from exercise of moderate to high intensity. Positive effects can be expected with regard to aerobic capacity, fatigue, physical function and depression. SUMMARY: There is reason to believe that exercise should be included in the rehabilitation of patients with mild to moderate systemic lupus erythematosus and patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome. Further research is needed and should aim to evaluate the effect of exercise on groups with varying degree of disease severity and to document the long-term impact on the disease.

Impact of Sjögren's syndrome on oral health-related quality of life in southern Chinese.

The effect of oral symptoms of Sjögren's syndrome (SS) on health-related quality of life is presently uncertain. This study aimed to investigate oral health-related quality of life (OHRQOL) among southern Chinese people with SS. Twenty-six primary SS cases, 25 secondary cases and 29 matched controls took part in this cross-sectional study. Each participant completed a SF-36 questionnaire, the Oral Health Impact Profile and a dry mouth measure, assisted by a trained interviewer. Data on socio-demographic variables were also collected. The dry mouth measure revealed that people with primary and secondary SS had significant problems associated with subjective symptoms of dry mouth generally, and dry mouth when eating and speaking (P < 0.01). Sticky saliva and coughing were also problems in some primary SS cases. OHIP summary and sub-scale scores did not reveal differences in negative impacts between groups. Mean SF-36 sub-scale scores were significantly different between groups (P < 0.05). In physical function, role-physical and general health domains, primary and secondary SS sufferers had lower scores indicating poorer health. Oral symptoms of SS, notably xerostomia, had a negative effect on OHRQOL. Health-related quality of life in general was also impaired in SS sufferers. The OHIP did not appear to discriminate oral problems of concern to SS sufferers.

Condicionamento fisico e treino muscular respiratorio aplicado a um paciente com sindrome de Sjogren primaria: relato de caso / Physical conditioning and respiratory muscle training applied to patient with primary Sjogren syndrome: a case study

A sindrome de Sjogren (S.S.) e uma desordem reumatica auto-imune progressiva capaz de manifestar-se sob as formas primaria ou secundaria, acometendo especialmente...

MOTRICS en Artritis Reumatoidea y Sindrome de Sjögren / Body therapy for patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis and Sjörgren Sindrome

En el Servicio de REumatologia del Hospital Rivadavia de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires se realizan, complementariamente a las actividades regulares del Servicio, talleres semanales de trabajo corporal para pacientes con Artritis Reumatoidea y con Sindrome de Sjögren, basados en los sistemas de Movimiento Vital Expresivo y Gimnasia Consciente con elementos de Eutonia. Los objetivos generales de este trabajo son: Recuperar la capacidad articular y muscular, estimular el desarrollo de la propiocepcion, brindar un espacio grupal ludico y una red corporal de contencion, y mejorar el estado animico. Se utiliza una concepcion integradora de los aspectos bio-psico-sociales del paciente. Las tecnicas incluyen movimiento con música, distintas modalidades de respiracion para el alivio del dolor y las tensiones, trabajos de relajacion, la practica del "movimiento anticipado", y el uso del tacto y el contacto como sosten mutuo. En pacientes con Artritis Reumatoidea se apunta principalmente a la ampliacion de la capacidad de movimiento, y a la recuperacion de la vitalidad y de sensaciones corporales distintas del dolor. En pacientes con Sindrome de Sjögren se trabaja en la superacion de la fatiga cronica diferencial de bajo estado de animo, la recuperacion de un cuerpo disfrutable y la afirmacion de actitudes vitales diferentes a la tendencia melancolica, y se investiga la incidencia de los ejerecicios de relajacion de las musculaturas bucal y peribucal, oftalmica y perioftalmica, en el aumento de la secrecion de lagrimas y saliva

Síndrome de sjögren primario: caracteristicas clínicas e inmunogenéticas

Objetivo: Examinar las características clínicas del síndrome de Sjögren (SS) primario en pacientes colombianos, y analizar la asociación de los genes HLA-DRB1 y DQB1 con la presencia y severidad de la enfermedad. Métodos: Este es un estudio transversal y comparativo. Todos los pacientes cumplieron con los criterios europeos para la clasificación de SS primario, incluyendo una biopsia positiva de las glándulas salivales menores (GSM); y fueron evaluados utilizando un registro que incluyó el compromiso exocrino y no exocrino de la enfermedad. Los anticuerpos antinucleares se determinaron por IFI en células Hep-2, los anticuerpos anti-Ro (IgG) y anti-La (IgG) se determinaron por ELISA. El polimorfismo de los genes HLA-DRB1 y DQB1 fue examinado mediante reacción en cadena de la polimerasa con iniciadores de secuencia específica. La severidad de la enfermedad fue determinada por la relación entre el puntaje por focos inflamatorios en GSM (método de Daniels) y la duración de la enfermedad (en años). Resultados: Se estudiaron 74 pacientes (97 por ciento mujeres) de Medellín y Santafé de Bogotá, y 76 individuos sanos apareados por edad, sexo y geografía. La enfermedad tuvo una presentación clínica similar a la del resto del mundo, y se asoció con el haplotipo HLA-DRB1*0301-DQB1*0201 (OR: 4.3, IC 95 por ciento: 1.6-12, p=0.002). Este a su vez se asoció con una severidad > 1 (OR: 15.5, IC 95 por ciento: 1.8-129, p=0.001), a la presencia de anticuerpos anti-Ro (OR:4.3, IC 95 por ciento:1.3-14, p=0.01). La frecuencia alélica del HLA-DQB1*0602 fue mayor en los controles (0.303) que en los pacientes (0.121) (OR:0.3, IC 95 por ciento: 0.2-0.8, p=0.01). Conclusión: El presente estudio describe las caracteráisticas clínicas del SS primario, confirmando la similitud de éstas en diferntes razas, y muestra, por primera vez en la población colombiana, la asociación del HLA-DRB1*0301-DQB1*0201 a la enfermedad y a su gravedad, así como el papel protector del HLA-DQB1*0602. La presencia de una carga negativa en la posición B71 del HLA-DRB1*0301 y DQB1*0201 así como una carga negativa en la posición b74 del hla-DQB1*0602 permite una explicación funcional del papel de estos alelos en la predisposición y protección de la enfermedad.

Oclusäo provisória dos pontos lacrimais com Catgut / Temporary lacrimal oclusion with Catgut

Olho seco é um problema frequente, cujo tratamento, apenas com drogas tópicas, algumas vezes näo é suficiente para controle, necessitando oclusäo do ponto lacrimal. A previsäo de possíveis resultados da oclusäo definitiva deve ser feita através de oclusäo temporária com "plugs", apesar dos comercialmente disponíveis serem de alto custo. A alternativa de oclusäo temporária com fio Catgut 2-0