Paucity of Sjogren-like syndrome in a cohort of HIV-1-positive patients in the HAART era. Part II.
Panayiotakopoulos, G. D.; Aroni, K. 1; Kyriaki, D. 2; Paikos, S. 3; Vouyioukas, N. 4; Vlachos, A. 4; Kontos, A. N.; Kordossis, T.
[Article] Rheumatology. 42(10):1164-1167, October 2003.

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Objective: This study was performed in order to investigate the prevalence of Sjogren-like syndrome (SLS) in the highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART) era in a cohort of HIV-1-positive Greek patients.

Methods: One hundred and thirty-one unselected patients were screened by the validated European Union (EU) criteria for Sjogren's syndrome. Of the 31 who gave a positive EU-validated questionnaire, 17 consented to undergo minor salivary gland biopsy and other tests.

Results: Only two patients had a positive salivary gland biopsy and both belonged to the non-compliant HAART group, whereas none of the compliant HAART patients had histological findings.

Conclusions: It is concluded that SLS, the prevalence of which in the pre-HAART era was 7.8%, has disappeared, possibly as a result of the protective action of HAART.

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