The article “35 Years Follow-up of Primary Sjögren’s Disease: A Single Center Study” by Lorena Montano-Tapia and colleagues is a long-term study of patients with Primary Sjögren’s Syndrome (pSS), an autoimmune disease affecting exocrine glands. Conducted at the University College London Hospital, it included 232 patients diagnosed with pSS from 1984 to December 2022. The study aimed to observe the long-term outcomes of these patients.
Researchers found the average age at diagnosis was about 50 years, with an average follow-up period of 12 years. About 21% of patients were lost to follow-up, and 20% died during the study period. Lymphoma developed in 20 patients, with glandular issues being more common in this group compared to others. Swelling of the parotid glands at diagnosis was a significant predictor of lymphoma development, mostly occurring within 15 years after diagnosis.
The study also noted that the patients who died had an average age of 80, indicating that those with pSS can have a long life expectancy. However, infections were the most common cause of death, followed by malignancy. This research underscores the need for vigilant monitoring of pSS patients for lymphoma and infections due to their increased risk.