Introduction

Central nervous system manifestations of a number of rheumatologic diseases, particularly Sjogren’s Syndrome, can mimic multiple sclerosis (MS).[1]–[2] As a consequence, serum autoantibodies, such as ANA, SSA, SSB, rheumatoid factor, anticardiolipin antibodies, and lupus anticoagulant, are frequently included in the diagnostic workup of patients suspected of having MS. Limited and conflicting data has been reported in studies investigating the prevalence and clinical significance of these autoantibodies found in patients who have a confirmed diagnosis of MS and have no evidence of an additional coexisting rheumatologic syndrome. [3]–[24] Whether a diagnosis of rheumatologic disease in a patient with MS indicates an increased risk of concurrent autoimmune disease or a misdiagnosis of MS can also be difficult to determine. Sjogren’s Syndrome in particular has been reported to be common among patients diagnosed with MS and there has been suggestion that neurological manifestations of Sjogren’s Syndrome might be mistaken for MS. [23], [25]–[26] Interpretation of previous literature is especially challenging given recent development of improved diagnostic criteria for MS and Sjogren’s Syndrome. [27]–[28] Furthermore, most studies of autoantibodies and Sjogren’s Syndrome in patients with MS were completed prior to the recognition of neuromyelitis optica (NMO) and NMO spectrum disorders (NMOSD) as distinct from MS [29]. The increased prevalence of autoantibodies and related autoimmune diseases, including Sjogren’s Syndrome in particular, among NMO/NMOSD patients [30], suggests the possibility that most previous studies of autoimmune antibodies in MS populations [3]–[4], [6]–[7], [9]–[11], [13]–[24] may have been affected by inclusion of NMO/NMOSD patients.

We sought to reevaluate the frequency of autoantibodies in an MS population with diagnoses confirmed by Revised McDonald Criteria criteria [31] in which NMO/NMOSD had been excluded, assessed whether presence of autoantibodies had any clinical significance and determined whether any patients met current diagnostic criteria [27] for Sjogren’s Syndrome.

Methods

Patients with MS were recruited from the Multiple Sclerosis Center of Oregon at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU). Recruitment was limited to female patients due to the infrequent diagnosis of Sjogren’s Syndrome in males. The diagnosis of MS was confirmed using 2005 Revised McDonald Criteria [31]. The 2010 revisions to the McDonald Criteria [28] had not yet been developed at the time of enrollment of the study. Patients with relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS), secondary progressive MS (SPMS), progressive- relapsing (PRMS) and primary progressive MS (PPMS) were included in the study.

Exclusion criteria included known diagnoses of NMO/NMOSD or a known diagnosis of a rheumatologic disease or syndrome that could mimic Sjogren’s Symdrome as outlined revised international classification criteria for Sjogren’s Syndrome [27]. Exclusions included systemic lupus erythematosus, antiphospholipid antibody syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, hepatitis C infection, lymphoma, graft-versus-host disease, lymphoma, human T-lymphotropic virus Type I infection, human immunodeficiency virus infection and previous head or neck radiation. However, patients currently prescribed medications that might cause dry eye or dry mouth were not excluded.

Recruitment was completed via a convenience sample. From November 2009 through April 2010, successive patients were offered participation in the study during new consultation and follow-up outpatient visits.

Patient demographic and clinical data were collected via chart review. Participants completed a brief survey that included validated questions for ocular and oral symptoms from the revised international classification criteria for Sjogren’s Syndrome. [27] Each participant also completed a self-reported Expanded Disability Status Scale (self-EDSS). [32] This instrument has been demonstrated to correlate with EDSS score as determined by neurological exam. Serum was drawn for antinuclear antibody (ANA), extractable nuclear antigen antibodies (SSA and SSB), rheumatoid factor (RF), anticardiolipin antibodies (aCLs), and lupus anticoagulant (LA).

ANA and RF testing were performed by Kaiser Permanente NW, 13705 NE Airport Way Portland, OR 97230. A sample with a positive ANA with either homogenous or rim pattern was automatically tested for anti-DS DNA antibodies. RF was negative with a value of less than 10 IU/mL. ENA, aCLs, and LA testing was performed at OHSU. For anticardiolipin antibody IgG and IgM, values equal or greater than 20 PL units were considered positive. For anticardiolipin Antibody IgA a value equal or greater than 15 PL units was considered positive. A multi-test panel with a number of phospholipids was used to detect LA. If one of the screening assays was positive, a confirmatory assay was performed (Dilute Viper Venom Confirm or Hexagonal APTT). LA was considered present when one or both confirmatory assays were positive.

Patients with positive SSA or SSB were subsequently offered a Schirmer’s test. This was performed by a neuro-ophthalmologist and included the placement of one drop of 0.5% proparacaine on each eye prior to testing. Patients with a diagnosis of MS who were found to have positive SSA or SSB were also offered testing for serum NMO IgG. This test was performed by Mayo Medical Lab, 200 First St. SW, Rochester, MN 55905.

Analysis of the data was performed using the fisher exact test, two samples t test, and chi square for comparisons.

Results

Patient Demographics

Ninety-one female patients with MS participated in the study. Seventy-four had been diagnosed with RRMS, 14 with SPMS, 3 with PPMS, and none with PRMS. Demographic and MS disease characteristics identified via medical record review and self-reported EDSS are presented in Table 1.

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Table 1. Demographic, Clinical, and Paraclinical Characteristics.

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Autoantibodies in MS

Autoantibodies were detected in 35/91 (38%) of MS patients. One autoantibody was detected in 27/35(77%) and two autoantibodies were detected in 8/35(23%). Detailed results of autoantibody testing are presented in Table 2.

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Table 2. Detection of Autoantibodies in Patients with MS.

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ANA was positive in 23/78 (31%), including 7/78(10%) with titers equal or greater than 1∶160. Reflex anti-DS DNA was automatically performed in 10 patients and one patient with ANA of 1∶40 tested positive for anti-DS DNA. This patient had no history or exam findings suggestive of rheumatologic disease, imaging was not suggestive of vasculitis, NMO IgG testing completed prior to participation in the study was negative, all additional antibodies tested in the study were negative, and history, exam, and imaging remained consistent with confirmed diagnosis of MS.

SSA was positive in 4/91 (4%) patients. SSB was negative in all patients and RF was mildly elevated at a value of 11 in one patient. Anticardiolipin antibodies(aCLs) were found in 14 patients (16%) and no patient had more than one positive aCL. 11/14 (79%) were low positive (20–30 PL), 3/14 (21%) were moderately positive (31–80 PL) and none were high positive (>80 PL). LA was found in 2/91(2%).

Detection of autoantibodies by MS subtype was also assessed. Statistical comparisons were not made due to small sample size. ANA was positive in 19/74 (26%) patients with RRMS, 3/14 (21%) with SPMS, and 1/3 (33%) with PPMS. Anticardiolipin antibodies were found in 12/74 (16%) of patients with RRMS, 1/14 (7%) with SPMS, and 1/3 (33%) with PPMS. SSA was detected in 1/74 (1%) with RRMS, 3/14 (21%) with SPMS, and 0/3 (0%) with PPMS. Lupus anticoagulant was found in 1/74 (1%) with RRMS, 0/14 (0%) with SPMS, and 1/3 (33%) with PPMS.

Sjogren’s Syndrome Symptoms and Related Testing

All patients completed the revised international classification criteria questions for Sjogren’s Syndrome for ocular and oral symptoms. [27] Thirteen (14%) patients reported having “daily, persistent, troublesome dry eyes for more than 3 months”, 11(12%) reported “a recurrent sensation of sand or gravel in the eyes” and 8(9%) reported “using tear substitutes more than 3 times a day”. Twenty three (25%) patients reported “a daily feeling of dry mouth for more than 3 months”, two patients (2%) reported “recurrently or persistently swollen salivary glands as an adult” and 28(31%) reported they “frequently drink liquids to aid in swallowing dry food”.

Four patients with MS were found to have positive SSA. Per study protocol, all four underwent Schirmer’s test; a result equal to or less than 5 mm in either eye was considered abnormal. Demographic data, MS phenotype, response to ocular and oral symptom survey, Schirmer’s test results, and autoantibody testing results are presented in Table 3. Referral for minor salivary gland biopsy, measurement of salivary flow, sialography, or salivary scintigraphy was not pursued in any patient. A diagnosis of Sjogren’s Syndrome requires either positive SSA/SSB or positive minor salivary gland biopsy, and an additional 3 out of 6 diagnostic criteria. [27] A diagnosis of Sjogren’s Syndrome in our patients was therefore assessed using the results of SSA/SSB positivity, Schirmer’s test, and responses to ocular and oral symptom questions. No patient fulfilled 4 out of the 6 required items for the diagnosis of Sjogren’s Syndrome. Per the study protocol, all 4 MS patients with positive SSA also had their serum tested for NMO IgG, and all four were negative.

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Table 3. Characteristics of Patients with Positive SSA.

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Discussion

In this study, autoantibodies were frequently detected in patients with a diagnosis of MS. Detection of autoantibodies was not significantly associated with demographic, clinical or paraclinical disease characteristics in patients with MS. Although symptoms and antibodies compatible with Sjogren’s Syndrome were not uncommon in patients with MS, no patient met diagnostic criteria for Sjogren’s Syndrome. This study suggests that screening for rheumatologic autoantibodies in patients where there is strong suspicion of MS and low suspicion of rheumatologic disease is not diagnostically or clinically informative. Our study did not reveal a unique autoantibody profile in patients with MS.

Elevated ANA was particularly common and was found in 31% of patients with MS. More specifically ANA was found in 18% at a dilution of 1∶40, 3% at a dilution of 1∶80, and 9% at a dilution of 1∶160 and 1% at a dilution higher than 1∶160. Although this was similar to the frequency of 23–33% identified by many studies, [3]–[4], [9], [15]–[16], [22] elevated ANA has also been detected in higher (47–81%) [12], [18], [22] and lower (3%–19%) frequency in MS patients [5], [19]–[21], [23] in additional literature. It is important to note that ANA has been detected at a frequency of 32% at 1∶40 dilution, 13% at 1∶80, 5% at 1∶160 and in 3% at 1∶320 in healthy individuals. [33] In agreement with previous studies, detection of RF was rare in our study. [15].

An association between aCLs, myelitis and optic neuritis has been suggested previously [14], raising the possibility that this data was affected by patients with unrecognized NMMO/NMOSD. However, aCLs were detected relatively frequently in MS patients in our study (16%) where patients with NMO/NMOSD were excluded. This was comparable to numerous previous studies [5]–[9], [12], [14]–[15], [17], [22], [24] identifying aCLs in 6–21% of MS patients including two studies where exclusion of NMO/NMOSD patients from analysis was likely [5], [12], both identifying aCLs in 6% of MS patients. ACLs have also been detected at a frequency of 1–9% in numerous studies of healthy populations. [34]–[36].

In our study, SSA was detected in 4% of MS patients and there was no detection of SSB. This finding was similar to previous studies that have identified SSA in 3–13% and SSB in 1–2%. [3], [12], [23] Contrary to previous studies, where Sjogren’s syndrome was identified frequently in an MS population [23], [25]–[26], we did not find any patients with occult Sjogren’s Syndrome. Our findings may reflect our exclusion of NMO/NMOSD patients, differing research methodologies, or the use of more recent standardized diagnostic criteria. [27], [31] Our results are in agreement with a similar previous study reported prior to refinement of MS and Sjogren’s diagnostic criteria. [37] Presuming a relationship between Sjogren’s Syndrome and NMO/NMOSD [30], we tested MS patients with positive SSA for serum NMO IgG. NMO IgG testing was negative in all 4 of these cases. Our study confirms that detection of SSA without a diagnosis of Sjogren’s Syndrome is not uncommon in patients with MS. Furthermore, dry eye and dry mouth were not infrequent in MS patients. While the reasons for this finding are unclear, it’s possible that anticholinergic effects of numerous medications including disease modifying therapies and therapies prescribed for MS-related symptoms might have been the cause.

We detected autoantibodies in 38% of MS patients. While autoantibodies are commonly found in patients with MS, in some studies at a frequency reported to be higher than controls, [3], [9], [12], [15], [19] their significance beyond an epiphenomenon of immune activation remains unclear. Some but not all previous studies have suggested an association between clinical phenotype, frequency of exacerbations or severity of disability, and the detection of autoantibodies. [4], [8], [12], [14], [15] It is possible that potential inclusion of NMO/NMOSD patients may have influenced these results. Our data is in agreement with studies [3]–[4], [6]–[7], [9], [10], [13], [22], [24] that have identified no association with clinical severity. Of note, two recent studies have suggested that MRI measurements of disease burden, including T2 lesion volume, may be associated with the presence of antiphospholipid autoantibodies in patients with MS. [5], [8] Further data is needed to confirm the significance of this finding.

A panel of autoantibodies, including ANA, SSA/SSB, RF, aCLs, and LA is often routinely tested in the workup of a diagnosis of MS. This approach contributes to increased healthcare costs without any benefit. At our institutions it costs approximately $700 to test for the autoantibodies assessed in our study. In addition, detection of these autoantibodies may lead to further unnecessary testing and consultations. Although rheumatologic syndromes may present with CNS manifestations, the frequency of autoantibodies detected in patients with a confirmed diagnosis of MS in this study questions the diagnostic usefulness and cost-effectiveness of this approach when there is not a “red flag” [1] resulting in clinical suspicion of an alternative diagnosis.

There were limitations to this study. There was potential for referral, temporal, and selection bias. Fluctuation of autoantibody levels over time and due to disease modifying therapies [5]–[6], [20] may limit conclusions based on a single serum evaluation. Although there is data supporting our methodology, consensus is lacking for optimal screening methods for Sjogren’s Syndrome in this population. [38] Minor salivary gland biopsy may be the most sensitive method for diagnosing Sjogren’s Syndrome, we did not perform this invasive procedure in this study and it is possible this test may have confirmed a diagnosis in one or more of the patients with positive SSA antibodies. In addition, our study design included only female MS patients given the much lower frequency of Sjogren’s Syndrome in men, and this may have led to a higher frequency of autoantibody detection than would be expected in an MS population including both men and women.