OP0041 SALIVA AND SERUM LEVELS OF CXCL13: ASSOCIATION WITH THE SEVERITY OF SALIVARY GLAND LESIONS AND LYMPHOMA IN PATIENTS WITH SJÖGREN’S SYNDROME (SS)

Background: CXCL13 has been implicated in the formation of ectopic germinal centers (GC) minor salivary gland (MSG) inflammatory lesions SS patients. Recent studies suggest that serum levels associate with disease severity and risk for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) development. Objectives: To validate clinical utility by investigating potential associations saliva various histopathologic (including MSG autoimmune infiltrates GC formation), serologic features disease, as well NHL. Methods: were measured a commercially available ELISA (sensitivity: 1 pg/ml; Abcam, Cambridge, UK) paired specimens from 25 patients (9 NHL; SSL), 9 sicca controls (SC; sicca-complaining individuals no diagnostic biopsy negative autoantibody profile) 6 healthy (HC). From 16 without evidence NHL, 5 had mild, intermediate severe at MSGs, arbitrarily defined focus (FS) Tarpley (TS) scores (mild: FS:1-1.7, TS:1, intermediate: FS:1.8-2.95, TS:2 severe: FS: 3.0-11, TS: 3-4). Furthermore, organization to GCs evaluated 23 revealing 10 GCs. Results: Kruskal-Wallis analysis revealed significantly increased or NHL (median: 94.83 pg/ml 96.70 pg/ml, respectively), compared SC HC (35.44 40.92 respectively; p<0.05), whereas only marginally (76.47, 84.10, 55.98 65.30 SS, SSL, HC, respectively, p=0.051). Among distinct lesion severity, those found express higher (149.3 pg/ml) (p: 0,0051 0.0166, respectively). Spearman’s Rank correlation showed both correlated SG score (r: 0.6889, p=0.0001 r: 0.4222, p=0.01, Mann-Whitney test elevated (156.1 vs 69.64 p:0.0015), rheumatoid factor (105.0 53.72 p: 0.015) anti-Ro/La antibodies (121.8 65.05 0.06) without. high develop low 71.54 0.0275). Saliva not studied features. Conclusion: Serum lesser extend are SSL degree infiltration, assessed score. Serum, but saliva, associates features, including formation, may have identifying lymphoma. Disclosure Interests: None declared