#2-52E. Incorporating Ultrasound and Risk Stratification in Sjögren Disease Management (Rheumatol, 2025)

How should clinicians optimally manage the systemic manifestations and profoundly reduced quality of life associated with Sjögren Disease (SD)? This episode analyzes the latest guidelines from the British Society for Rheumatology (BSR), which addresses the diagnosis and management of adult and juvenile onset SD. SD is a chronic autoimmune disorder characterized by sicca symptoms, but importantly, systemic features like fatigue and arthralgia affect over 70% of patients, significantly impacting quality of life3. A key clinical finding emphasized is the utility of salivary gland ultrasonography (USS) as an auxiliary diagnostic tool, particularly valuable in anti-Ro/La negative patients or when biopsy is contraindicated. However, critical assessment reveals a limitation: robust evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) for systemic disease treatment remains scarce, leading many recommendations (Grade C) to rely heavily on expert consensus67. This guideline is essential for clinicians as it provides a comprehensive framework for personalizing care, encompassing diagnostic approaches, risk stratification for B-cell lymphoma, and managing both sicca and systemic symptoms in daily practice.

Citation: Price EJ. et al. British Society for Rheumatology guideline on management of adult and juvenile onset Sjögren disease. Rheumatology. 2025. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/rheumatology/keae152

Disclaimer: This audio summary is based on personal interpretation and does not guarantee the exact content of the original paper. Please refer to the original article for details.