Exploring the Clinical Spectrum of Sjögren’s Syndrome among Patients at a Tertiary Care Center in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-sectional Registry-based Study

Abstract Background: Sjögren’s syndrome (SS) is a prevalent and chronic autoimmune condition that significantly impacts patients’ quality of life due to its diverse clinical and immunological features. This study aimed to determine the clinical manifestations of primary and secondary SS in patients on 2016 American College of Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatism classification criteria of SS who received follow-up care in the rheumatology clinic at Aseer Central Hospital, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, between January 1, 2000, and December 31, 2020. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was based on a registry of a cohort of patients with SS. Data were collected by reviewing medical records to investigate clinical, serological, and treatments of patients. Results: A total of 29 patients were included. All of them were females. Thyroid disease and autoimmune conditions like rheumatoid arthritis were prevalent among the studied patients. Treatment primarily involved rituximab and prednisolone among immunosuppressants. The most reported clinical features were dry mouth (75.9%), dry eye (69.0%), fatigue (58.5%), and arthritis (41.4%), with positive antinuclear antibody and anti-SS antigen A antibodies frequently detected. Elevated inflammatory markers and normal hematological parameters were common. Conclusion: SS is a multifaceted disease that needs tailored and holistic management strategies for patients.