Evaluation of germinal center-like structures and B cell clonality in patients with primary Sjögren syndrome with and without lymphoma.

Objective: Germinal center (GC)-like structures have previously been observed in minor salivary glands (MSG) of patients with primary Sjögren syndrome (pSS). The aim of our study was to explore the prevalence and features of GC-like structures and B cell clonality in patients with pSS with and without lymphoma.

Methods: Based on a nationwide survey in Norway, we included 21 patients with pSS and with a concomitant lymphoma from whom MSG and/or lymphoma biopsies were available.

Genetic associations to germinal centre formation in primary Sjogren's syndrome.

Background: Primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) is an autoimmune rheumatic disease mainly characterised by focal mononuclear cell infiltration in the salivary and lacrimal glands, and by the symptoms xerostomia and keratoconjunctivitis sicca. Germinal centre-like structures (GC) are found in the minor salivary glands of approximately 25% of patients. In this study, we aimed to assess genetic variations in pSS patients with GC-like formations (GC+) compared with patients without such formations (GC-).