Objectives: To describe the clinical features of childhood Sjögren's syndrome (SS) in comparison to adult SS and to evaluate possible child-specific modifications to existing adult criteria for use in diagnosing childhood SS.
Methods: We retrospectively identified children (age <18 years) with SS and compared the clinical, laboratory, and histopathological features of these children based on presence or absence of parotitis. We compared these features to adults with SS and evaluated the applicability of existing classification criteria in diagnosing childhood SS. Child-specific modifications to existing criteria were evaluated.
Results: Twenty-six children were included in our childhood SS group. Sixteen children had parotitis at or before presentation. Absence of parotitis was associated with greater degree of organ damage based on SS disease damage index. Compared to 413 adult SS patients, childhood SS was more commonly associated with parotitis, positive serologies, neurologic and nephrologic manifestations, and non-specific features (fever, lymphadenopathy) but less commonly associated with dry mouth and dry eyes. Only a minority of these children met previously established criteria for adult SS. Inclusion of child-specific features such as parotitis and the presence of any focal lymphocytic sialadenitis on minor salivary gland biopsy increased the proportion of children meeting these criteria.
Conclusions: Childhood SS features may be different than adult SS features necessitating child-specific criteria for better diagnosis of childhood SS, a key step towards better understanding the features, prognosis, and outcomes in this disease.