Table 4

Patients' clinical characteristics by disease category, cumulatively for the entire follow up period

Characteristics of patients

(P-value¹)

ACA+/SS

(n = 20) [%]

SSc/(+) sicca

(n = 31) [%]

SSc/(-) sicca

(n = 20) [%]

ACA-/SS

(n = 61) [%]

Positive MSGB (0.039)

18 [94.7]

12 [75.0]

-

54 [94.7]

P-values²

0.156

1.000

Abnormal Rose Bengal (0.364)

8 [72.7]

9 [56.3]

0 [0.0]

22 [71.0]

P-values²

0.448

0.333

1.000

Abnormal Schirmer test (0.176)

9 [64.3]

14 [87.5]

0 [0.0]

35.5 [71.4]

P-values²

0.204

0.400

0.743

Abnormal BUT (0.428)

7 [77.8]

9 [75.0]

0 [0.0]

18 [69.2]

P-values²

1.000

0.300

1.000

Lymphadenopathy (0,249)

3 [15.0]

8 [25.8]

1 [5.0]

9 [14.8]

P-values²

0.493

0.605

1.000

Raynaud (<0.0001)

15 [75.0]

31 [100.0]

20 [100.0]

11 [18.0]

P-values²

0.007

0.047

<0.0001

SGE (0.006)

3 [15.0]

4 [12.9]

0 [0.0]

20 [32.8]

P-values²

1.000

0.231

0.160

Purpura (0,052)

2 [10.0]

1 [3.2]

0 [0.0]

11 [18.0]

P-values²

0.553

0.487

0.502

Xerostomia (<0.0001)

19 [95.0]

25 [80.6]

0 [0.0]

53 [86.9]

P-values²

0.223

<0.0001

0.440

Dry eyes (<0.0001)

17 [85.0]

29 [93.5]

0 [0.0]

60 [98.4]

P-values²

0.369

<0.0001

0.045

Telangiectasias (<0.0001)

2 [10.0]

28 [90.3]

14 [70.0]

2 [3.3]

P-values²

<0.0001

<0.0001

0.254

Puffy fingers (<0.0001)

7 [35.0]

26 [83.9]

14 [70.0]

10 [16.4]

P-values²

0.001

0.056

0.112

Sclerodactyly (<0.0001)

0 [0.0]

31 [100.0]

19 [95.0]

0 [0.0]

P-values²

<0.0001

<0.0001

-

Calcinosis (0. 001)

0 [0.0]

6 [19.4]

4 [20.0]

0 [0.0]

P-values²

0.070

0.106

-

Ulcers (0.249)

2 [10.0]

17 [54.8]

11 [55.0]

0 [0.0]

P-values²

0.001

0.006

0.059

Dysphagia (<0.0001)

7 [35.0]

18 [58.1]

5 [25.0]

4 [6.6]

P-values²

0.153

0.731

0.004

GER (<0.0001)

3 [15.0]

20 [64.5]

10 [50.0]

6 [9.8]

P-values²

0.001

0.041

0.682

Arthritits (0.372)

8 [35.0]

10 [32.3]

4 [20.0]

14 [23.0]

P-values²

0.765

0.301

0.156

Dyspnoea (<0.0001)

7 [40.0]

20 [64.5]

5 [25.0]

9 [14.8]

P-values²

0.049

0.731

0.060

PAH (0.004)

2 [10.0]

8 [25.8]

2 [10.0]

1 [1.6]

P-values²

0.280

1.000

0.149

Ground glass HRCT (0.606)

0 [0.0]

4 [21.1]

1 [9.1]

1 [12.5]

P-values²

0.544

1.000

1.000

Lung fibrosis (0.001)

2 [10.0]

12 [38.7]

7 [35.0]

5 [8.2]

P-values²

0.029

0.127

1.000

Restrict. pattern PFTs (0.103)

2 [22.2]

8 [30.8]

6 [42.9]

0 [0.0]

P-values²

1.000

0.400

0.211

Serositis (0.080)

3 [15.0]

6 [19.4]

3 [15.0]

2 [3.3]

P-values²

1.000

0.019

0.094

Renal involvement (0.760)

0 [0.0]

0 [0.0]

0 [0.0]

1 [1.6]

P-values²

-

-

1.000

Carpal tunnel (0.853)

2 [10.0]

3 [9.7]

3 [15.0]

5 [4.9]

P-values²

1.000

1.000

1.000

Per. Neuropathy (0.743)

1 [5.0]

2 [6.5]

0 [0.0]

3 [86.9]

P-values²

1.000

1.000

1.000

Leucopenia (0,088)

2 [10.0]

2 [6.5]

2 [10.0]

15 [24.6]

P-values²

0.640

1.000

0.216

Hypergammaglobulinaemia (0.0001)

5 [25.0]

6 [19.4]

1 [5.0]

31 [50.8]

P-values²

0.732

0.182

0.068

Cryoglobulinaemia (0.609)

0 [0.0]

2 [6.5]

1 [5.0]

5 [4.9]

P-values²

0.514

1.000

0.326

RF (0.015)

5 [25.0]

6 [19.4]

4 [20.0]

29 [47.5]

P-values²

0.732

1.000

0.117

Low C3,C4 (0.289)

0 [0.0]

5 [20.0]

3 [23.1]

10 [19.6]

P-values²

0.137

0.087

0.101

Proteinuria (0.760)

0 [0.0]

0 [0.0]

0 [0.0]

1 [1.6]

P-values²

-

-

1.000

¹ Overall P-value from the Chi Square test of independence (significance < 0.05).

² P-values from the Fisher's exact test comparing the first group with each of the other three groups MSGB: minor salivary gland biopsy, BUT, Tear film break up time, SGE, salivary gland enlargement, GER, gastroesophageal reflux, PAH, pulmonary arterial hypertension, HRCT, high resolution computed tomography, PFT, pulmonary function tests, RF, rheumatoid factor

Bournia et al. Arthritis Research & Therapy 2010 12:R47   doi:10.1186/ar2958