UNLABELLED: Female patients affected with Sjogren's Syndrome (SS) frequently describe symptoms such as vaginal dryness and dyspareunia; however, only a few controlled studies have regarded clinical involvement of the female external genitalia. OBJECTIVE: The present study was undertaken in order to: (1) Evaluate the involvement of external genitalia in a large number of female patients affected with primary SS (pSS) by semi-quantitative methods covering subjective symptoms and clinical evaluation. (2) Compare pSS patients with a matched healthy control group (pre- and post-menopausal women were separately studied). (3) Correlate the gynaecological involvement with salivary and lacrimal abnormalities in pSS patients. METHODS: We evaluated 36 patients with primary SS (18 pre- and 18 post-menopausal women) and 43 healthy controls using a questionnaire regarding vulvar and vaginal dryness and a complete gynaecological examination. Subsequently, three scores related to vulvar and cervical status plus a global score were obtained. In primary SS patients, salivary and lacrimal involvement was also evaluated. RESULTS: Dyspareunia was present in 61% and vaginal dryness in 55% of SS patients versus 39% and 33% of healthy controls. No significant differences regarding gynaecological scores were found between SS patients and controls, in both pre- and post-menopausal women, nor correlation was observed between gynaecological and lacrimal or salivary involvement. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that although SS patients frequently complain of dyspareunia and vaginal dryness they do not greatly differ from healthy subjects in regard to some major gynaecological aspects.
UNLABELLED: Female patients affected with Sjogren's Syndrome (SS) frequently describe symptoms such as vaginal dryness and dyspareunia; however, only a few controlled studies have regarded clinical involvement of the female external genitalia. OBJECTIVE: The present study was undertaken in order to: (1) Evaluate the involvement of external genitalia in a large number of female patients affected with primary SS (pSS) by semi-quantitative methods covering subjective symptoms and clinical evaluation. (2) Compare pSS patients with a matched healthy control group (pre- and post-menopausal women were separately studied). (3) Correlate the gynaecological involvement with salivary and lacrimal abnormalities in pSS patients. METHODS: We evaluated 36 patients with primary SS (18 pre- and 18 post-menopausal women) and 43 healthy controls using a questionnaire regarding vulvar and vaginal dryness and a complete gynaecological examination. Subsequently, three scores related to vulvar and cervical status plus a global score were obtained. In primary SS patients, salivary and lacrimal involvement was also evaluated. RESULTS:Dyspareunia was present in 61% and vaginal dryness in 55% of SS patients versus 39% and 33% of healthy controls. No significant differences regarding gynaecological scores were found between SS patients and controls, in both pre- and post-menopausal women, nor correlation was observed between gynaecological and lacrimal or salivary involvement. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that although SS patients frequently complain of dyspareunia and vaginal dryness they do not greatly differ from healthy subjects in regard to some major gynaecological aspects.
Authors: Angela Tincani; Laura Andreoli; Ilaria Cavazzana; Andrea Doria; Marta Favero; Maria-Giulia Fenini; Franco Franceschini; Andrea Lojacono; Giuseppe Nascimbeni; Amerigo Santoro; Francesco Semeraro; Paola Toniati; Yehuda Shoenfeld Journal: BMC Med Date: 2013-04-04 Impact factor: 8.775
Authors: Jolien F van Nimwegen; Karin van der Tuuk; Silvia C Liefers; Gwenny M Verstappen; Annie Visser; Robin F Wijnsma; Arjan Vissink; Harry Hollema; Marian J E Mourits; Hendrika Bootsma; Frans G M Kroese Journal: Rheumatology (Oxford) Date: 2020-10-01 Impact factor: 7.580