Ultrasound assessment of salivary glands in XXXX with primary Sj  gren's syndrome treated with rituximab: Quantitative and Doppler waveform analysis.

@entity1 @entity10632 @entity2225
OBJECTIVES: Noninvasive objective tests are needed to diagnose @entity10632 ( @entity10632 ) and to evaluate treatment responses. Ultrasound imaging of the salivary glands is rapid and noninvasive. Recent open-label studies suggested that anti- @entity2225 (rituximab) may be effective in @entity10632 . The purpose of this study was to look for ultrasound evidence of the effects of rituximab in @entity10632 . METHODS: We compared 16 @entity1 fulfilling the new American-European consensus group criteria for @entity10632 to 9 controls, using B-mode ultrasound features (parenchymal homogeneity and gland size) and Doppler waveform analysis of the transverse facial artery of parotid glands. We compared the same parameters in the @entity1 before and after 12 weeks of intravenous rituximab therapy. RESULTS: Compared to controls, untreated @entity1 had significant abnormalities in salivary gland structure (p < 0.0001) and parotid size (2.05 +/- 0.33 cm versus 1.70 +/- 0.28 cm; p = 0.001). Doppler waveform analysis showed significant differences before, but not after, lemon stimulation between untreated @entity1 and controls. After rituximab treatment, significant size reductions were noted in the parotids (2.05 +/- 0.3 cm at baseline and 1.86 +/- 0.27 cm at week 12; p = 0.002) and submandibular glands (2.02 +/- 0.54 cm at baseline and 1.66 +/- 0.34 cm at week 12; p = 0.001). Doppler resistive indices after lemon stimulation were significantly increased after rituximab treatment. CONCLUSION: Salivary gland measurements and blood inflow responses to salivary stimulation as assessed by ultrasound hold promise as objective noninvasive tools for evaluating rituximab effects in @entity1 with @entity10632 .
