USE OF A SICCA SYMPTOMS QUESTIONNAIRE FOR THE IDENTIFICATION OF PATIENTS WITH SJOGRENS-SYNDROME IN A HETEROGENEOUS HOSPITAL POPULATION WITHVARIOUS RHEUMATIC DISEASES

Objective. A six-item questionnaire regarding sicca symptoms recently validated for primary Sjogren's syndrome (SS) was tested on 154 in-pat ients with a wide range of inflammatory rheumatic diseases. Patients w ith one or more positive responses underwent objective ocular and oral diagnostic procedures. Of 27 patients thus investigated 19 could be c lassified as having SS. Results. The positive answers obtained were ma inly in response to 4 of the 6 questions: dry eyes, sensation of sand or gravel in the eyes, dry mouth, and drinking of liquids to aid in sw allowing dry foods. Among the 19 patients found with SS, most had had earlier diagnoses of various connective tissue diseases (rheumatoid ar thritis included) and most were female. Conclusion. In conclusion this study indicates that the sicca symptom questionnaire may be useful wh en deciding which patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases should be subjected to special investigations with regard to SS.