Elevated levels of faecal calprotectin in primary Sjögren’s syndrome is common and associated with concomitant organic gastrointestinal disease

Table 4 Gastrointestinal discomfort is common in primary Sjögren’s syndrome according to Rome III criteria

Symptomatology	Control subjects (N = 23)	Patients with FC <50 μg/g (n = 26)	Patients with FC >50 μg/g (n = 25)	All patients with pSS (N = 51)
Functional heartburn	1/23	7/26	6/25	13/51
Functional dysphagia	1/23	4/26	4/25	8/51
Functional dyspepsia	1/23	10/26^a	9/25^b	19/51^a
Irritable bowel syndrome	3/23	8/26	8/25	16/51
Functional constipation	3/23	2/26	0/25	2/51
Faecal Incontinence	1/23	2/26	8/25^b	10/51
Any of above	8/23	17/26^b	20/25^a	37/51^a

FC faecal calprotectin; pSS primary Sjögren’s syndrome
Data shown are number of subjects with data indicative of functional gastrointestinal disorders. Significant differences were identified between control subjects in comparison to both primary Sjögren’s syndrome groups. Fisher’s exact test was used to compare groups. No significant differences were identified between patients with pSS with and without pathological FC testing. According to the Rome III criteria, organic disease must be ruled out in order to receive a diagnosis of functional gastrointestinal disorder
^a p < 0.05 compared with control subjects
^b p < 0.01 compared with control subjects

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