Table 4 Main SS-related features of the 17 SS-HCV patients with anti-La antibodies in comparison with the 200 SS patients with anti-La antibodies without HCV infection

Mean age, years

59.59 ± 11.87

51.04 ± 15.77

0.03

Sex, male

4 (23 %)

8 (4 %)

0.009*

Dry mouth

16 (94 %)

197 (99 %)

0.280

Dry eye

17 (100 %)

196 (98 %)

1.000

Altered ocular tests

15/16 (94 %)

176/187 (94 %)

1.000

Altered parotid scintigraphy

9/10 (90 %)

151/165 (91 %)

0.602

Positive salivary gland biopsy

3/3 (100 %)

55/61 (90 %)

1.000

Antinuclear antibody⁺

14 (82 %)

170/199 (85 %)

0.723

Rheumatoid factor⁺

13/17 (77 %)

112/191 (59 %)

0.199

Anti-Ro/SS-A⁺

12 (71 %)

178 (89 %)

0.044

Monoclonal gammopathy

7/13 (54 %)

33/166 (20 %)

0.01

 - mIgA

0 (0 %)

3 (9 %)

0.87

 - mIgG

4 (57 %)

17 (52 %)

 - mIgM

2 (29 %)

9 (27 %)

 - Free chains

1 (14 %)

4 (12 %)

 - Kappa:lambda

2:5

23:10

0.041

Cryoglobulin⁺

9 (53 %)

19/188 (10 %)

<0.001

Low C3 levels, <0.82 g/l

9 (53 %)

22/196 (11 %)

<0.001*

Low C4 levels, <0.11 g/l

11 (65 %)

14/196 (7 %)

<0.001*

Hematological neoplasia

0 (0 %)

7 (3.5 %)

1.000

Neoplasia

4 (23.5 %)

17 (8.5 %)

0.067

Death

7 (41 %)

16 (8 %)

0.001