Objective: To observe the clinical features of primary Sjogren syndrome (pSS) in young people (< or =34 years).
Methods: The data of 232 patients with pSS who were in hospital from 2004 to 2008 were analysed in a prospective study.
Results: A total of 23.7%(55/232) patients' symptoms came on in youth (< or =34 years), who were all females, mean age was (27.6+/-6.2) years. The other 177 patients' symptoms came on when they were more than 34 years old. In young group, 32.73%(18/55) patients' first symptoms were xerostomia and/or keratoconjunctivitis sicca, the other 67.27%(37/55)came on without xerostomia and keratoconjunctivitis sicca, while in the middle-aged and aged group, 59.32%(105/177) patients' first symptoms were xerostomia and/or keratoconjunctivitis sicca, 40.67% (72/177)without xerostomia and keratoconjunctivitis sicca. There was significant difference(P=0.001). The duration from first symptom to first diagnosis of pSS in the young group was (93+/-107) months, which was significantly longer than those of the middle-aged and aged group [(45+/-59) months, P=0.001]. The systemic damage of the young group was 61.8%(34/55), which was significantly greater than 41.24%(73/177)in the middle-aged and aged group(P=0.026).
Conclusion: Primary Sjogren syndrome in young people is not rare, and about 2/3 of them come on without xerostomia and/or keratoconjunctivitis sicca. Not only the duration from first symptom to first diagnosis of pSS in the young group is longer, but also the systemic damage of the young group is greater than those of the middle-aged and aged group. These findings should alert the clinician to make the possible diagnosis of pSS in young patients.