AUTOANTIBODIES AND PRIMARY SJOGRENS-SYNDROME IN A HYPOCITRATURIC STONE POPULATION

Primary Sjogren's syndrome may be complicated by distal renal tubular acidosis (dRTA) and hypocitraturia, which are risk factors for calcium stone formation. Approached from a different perspective, in patients with urolithiasis and dRTA, autoantibodies and various autoimmune dis eases are not uncommon. In search for signs of autoimmune disease, we analysed antinuclear antibodies and total levels of serum IgG in 197 h ypocitraturic stone formers (67 women and 130 men). Antinuclear antibo dies were present in 1.5% of the men and in 18% of the women. An isola ted increase in serum IgG was found in 9% of the men and in 3% of the women. Anti-SS-A antibodies were analysed in a subgroup of 46 women an d were estimated to occur in 16% of all hypocitraturic stone forming w omen. Four of 14 examined women, but no men, fulfilled the criteria of definite or possible primary Sjogren's syndrome. We recommend the ana lysis of anti-SS-A antibodies in female hypocitraturic stone formers.