Histopathological environment besides the focus score in Sjögren's syndrome

Aim To compare the prevalence of diverse histopathologic features among patients with Sjögren's syndrome (SS) and controls, and to evaluate their relationship with age, a focus score (FS) ≥ 1 and some clinical and serological SS features. Methods A blinded pathologist examined 63 SS and 11 control minor salivary gland biopsies. Focal lymphocytic sialadenitis (FLS) was defined as a focus score (FS) ≥ 1. We also evaluated lymphoepithelial lesions, germinal centers (GCs), epithelial metaplasia, dilatation and hyperplasia in the main secretory duct, perivascular cell infiltrate, adipose infiltration, acinar atrophy, interstitial fibrosis and lymphocytes/plasma cells remote from the FLS. We registered demographics, anti‐Ro/La status and clinical features. We used Kendall's tau coefficients and logistic regression analysis. Results Sjögren's syndrome patients had a higher frequency of FS ≥ 1 (92% vs. 27%), acinar atrophy (78% vs. 18%), lymphocytes and plasma cells external to the FSL (92% vs. 64%) and stromal fibrosis (68% vs. 36%). A FS ≥ 1 correlated with the presence of GCs and acinar atrophy; whereas age correlated with duct dilation, duct epithelial hyperplasia, adipose infiltration and fibrosis. SS patients with hepatic involvement exhibited more frequent duct dilatation. After adjusting by age, anti‐Ro/SSA (odds ratio [OR] 30.8, 95% CI 2.2–423.5, P = 0.01), a FS ≥ 1 (OR 54.3, 95% CI 4.8–612, P = 0.001) and fibrosis (OR 15.2, 95% CI 1.2–186.2, P = 0.03) were associated with SS. Conclusion Other histologic findings coexist with FLS, but only GC formation and acinar atrophy correlated with a FS ≥ 1. Age is mostly correlated with the remaining histological features. However, the clinical relevance of these findings is unknown.