Ciurtin, Coziana; Peng, Junjie; Taylor-Gotch, Ruby; Peckham, Hannah; Wilson, Robert; Al Obaidi, Muthana; Jury, Elizabeth; (2025) Clinical phenotypes, classification, and long-term outcomes of childhood-onset Sjögren's disease into adulthood: a single-centre cohort study. The Lancet Rheumatology 10.1016/S2665-9913(25)00283-8. (In press).

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Abstract

Background: Childhood-onset Sjögren's disease is a rare and under-investigated rheumatic condition. The natural course of childhood-onset Sjögren's disease in adulthood in not known. This study aimed to evaluate long-term disease trajectories and complications of childhood-onset Sjögren's disease and explore management strategies. Methods: This combined retrospective and prospective analysis of a childhood-onset Sjögren's disease cohort with long-term follow-up into adulthood was done in individuals aged 13–36 years with childhood-onset Sjögren's disease recruited from a single tertiary adolescent and young adult rheumatology service at University College London Hospital, UK. Participants were either approached consecutively during routine clinical appointments, or their data were collected retrospectively from the time of diagnosis to the time of transition to the service, and prospectively thereafter. We mapped the cohort onto clinical phenotypes defined by the Florida Scoring System at disease onset and stratified them based on the Newcastle Sjögren's Stratification Tool at last assessment. Disease activity, symptom severity, and damage trajectories were assessed using European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology (EULAR) Sjögren's Syndrome Disease Activity Index (ESSDAI), EULAR Sjögren's Syndrome Patient Reported Index (ESSPRI), and Sjögren's Syndrome Disease Damage Index (SSDDI), respectively. People with related lived experience were involved in the study design and implementation. Findings: Between March 1, 2020, and June 30, 2024, we identified 30 children and young people diagnosed with childhood-onset Sjögren's disease based on expert opinion. Mean age at onset was 12·7 years (SD 3·3). 28 (93%) of 30 individuals were female and two (7%) were male. The most common disease manifestations at onset were fatigue (22 [73%] of 30 individuals), arthralgia (21 [70%]), dryness (17 [57%]), glandular swelling (15 [50%]), and skin rashes (ten [30%]). Diagnostic delay of more than 3 years from symptoms onset increased the prevalence of reported dryness (nine [100%] of nine vs eight [38%] of 21; p=0·0014). Children and young people with childhood-onset Sjögren's disease had two distinct disease activity and symptom trajectories (high ESSDAI: mean 3·9 [SD 2·2] vs low ESSDAI: mean 0·8 [1·1]; p<0·0001 and high ESSPRI: mean 5·6 [2·7] vs low ESSPRI: mean 3·1 [1·0]; p=0·036), which could not be predicted by sex or age at onset, symptom duration, or duration of follow-up. Damage accrual did not differ based on activity and symptom trajectory (p=0·080 and p=1·0, respectively). At last review, the median ESSDAI score was 2·0 (IQR 2·0–8·0) and the ESSPRI score was 5·3 (3·0–7·0). Four (13%) of 30 patients developed lymphoma and 17 (57%) accumulated damage (SSDDI score ≥1). Interpretation: This preliminary evaluation of long-term outcomes of childhood-onset Sjögren's disease in adulthood showed distinct patterns of disease and symptom trajectories and that a high proportion of children and young people develop damage in early adulthood. These findings highlight the need for improved research quality and evidence-based management strategies for better outcomes in this population. Funding: None.

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