Histological and immunological study in patients with rheumatoid arthritis showing isolated abnormalities of salivary scintigraphy.

We report the histological and immunological findings in 20 rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients with impaired salivary scintigraphy but without sicca complex. This condition was stable over 2-5 years and associated with mild infiltrates on lip biopsies. Increased levels of IgG, immune complexes, and antinuclear antibodies were found in seven patients (35 vs 69% in secondary Sjögren's syndrome). Two of the seven patients later developed xerostomia. The above-mentioned immunological abnormalities may increase the likelihood of developing a clinical impairment of salivary function in patients with an abnormal salivary scintiscan, the latter being a frequent, yet often isolated, finding in RA. Antisalivary duct antibodies were not related to any other parameter of salivary gland involvement.