Primary Sjögren's Syndrome As Independent Risk Factor for Subclinical Atherosclerosis.

Objective: To assess the prevalence of subclinical atherosclerosis in patients with primary Sjogren's syndrome (pSS) and its possible association with clinical and analytical parameters of the disease. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 38 consecutive patients with pSS were compared with 38 age and sex healthy controls. Demographic variables and classic cardiovascular risk factors (CVRFs): Hypertension, dyslipidemia, diabetes mellitus, obesity, and smoking habit were assessed in both groups, and also disease-related features were collected in pSS group. The presence of subclinical atherosclerosis was assessed by carotid ultrasound, with carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) measurement and determination of the presence of atheromatous plaques. Results: Subclinical atherosclerosis presence was remarkably greater in patients with pSS than in healthy controls (OR = 4.17, 95%CI [1.27-16.54]), as well as CIMT values (0.79 +/- 0.43 mm vs. 0.66 +/- 0.27 mm; P = .02). No differences for classic CVRFs were found between both groups. An association of subclinical atherosclerosis with erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and rheumatoid factor (RF) was observed in patients with pSS. Conclusion: This cohort showed a greater prevalence of subclinical atherosclerosis in patients with OS, indicating this disease as an independent risk factor for presence of early vascular damage.