A RECENT cross-sectional study conducted at a quaternary hospital in Brazil has provided new insights into joint involvement in Sjögren’s disease (SjD), challenging its traditional classification as a non-erosive condition. The research utilized high-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography (HR-pQCT) to assess bone erosions and osteophytes in the hand joints of 106 female SjD patients aged 18–65 years.
The findings revealed that 56.7% of the participants exhibited bone erosions, predominantly in the third metacarpal head, with a mean erosion volume of 5.71 mm³. Osteophytes were identified in 7.2% of cases. Notably, erosion volume increased by 7% per year of age, and postmenopausal women had a 3.54-fold increase in erosion volume compared to their premenopausal counterparts.
Despite these structural changes, the study found no significant associations between erosion volume and disease activity indices or clinical outcomes. This suggests that while bone erosions are prevalent in SjD, they may have limited clinical significance in terms of disease activity and patient functionality.
These findings highlight the potential of HR-pQCT as a sensitive tool for detecting joint damage in SjD patients, particularly among older, postmenopausal women. The study calls for further prospective research to explore the impact of these joint erosions and to reassess the non-erosive classification of Sjögren’s disease.
This study underscores the importance of considering patient age and menopausal status when evaluating joint health in SjD and suggests that advanced imaging techniques like HR-pQCT could play a crucial role in the early detection and management of joint involvement in this patient population.
Reference: Franco AS et al. Associations of local bone involvement with disease activity, damage and functional disability in Sjögren’s disease: A cross-sectional study. Semin Arthritis Rheum. 2025;71:152644.
Anaya Malik | AMJ
