This study aims to investigate ultrasound (US) findings on salivary glands (SG) in patients with Sjögren syndrome (SS) vs. other connective tissue diseases (CTDs) and to assess the relationship of ...SGUS abnormalities with autoantibody profile in both groups. We enrolled 81 patients, 45 diagnosed with SS (39 with primary SS, 6 with secondary SS) and 36 diagnosed with other CTDs. All patients underwent a prospective evaluation of sicca symptoms, a Schirmer’s test, and a B-mode US assessment of the parotid and submandibular glands, all blinded to the diagnosis. Each SG was semi-quantitatively scored 0–3; a grade ≥ 2 was considered pathological. SGUS involvement was classified as normal or pathological at the patient level and for each pair at the gland level. In addition, a total SGUS score of 0–12 and a parotid/submandibular score of 0–6 were calculated for each patient. Autoimmunity laboratory data were also obtained. All SGUS scores were higher in SS patients than in those with CTD (
p
< 0.001) and significantly more SS patients showed a pathological global (
p
< 0.001), parotid (
p
< 0.001), or submandibular (
p
= 0.001) US score compared with CTD patients. In SS patients, the presence of autoantibodies was significantly associated with pathological SGUS and higher scores, particularly at the parotid level, while in CTD patients, xerostomia and a pathological Schirmer’s test were associated with pathological US and higher scores at the submandibular level (
p
< 0.05). SGUS showed a different grade of abnormality, site involvement, and associated autoantibody profile in SS patients as compared with other CTD.
Key Points
•
Patients with SS and other CTDs showed different grades of SGUS abnormality
.
•
Patients with SS and other CTDs showed different gland involvement and associated autoantibody profiles
.
•
Anti-Ro60 and anti-Ro52 Ro60 positivity were associated with the severity of parotid involvement in SS patients.
Abstract only
661
Background: An elevated neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) has been associated with worse oncologic outcomes in several malignancies, its prognostic role in kidney cancer, ...specifically in the non metastatic setting is controversial. We aimed to evaluate if an elevated NLR in patients with locally advanced non metastatic clear cell renal cell carcinoma (CCRCC) is associated with a worse survival and/or a higher cancer recurrence rate. Methods: We retrospectively identified 880 nephrectomies performed between 01/2009 to 12/2016 in a single center, reviewed data from 478 consecutive radical nephrectomies (RN) for kidney tumors and identified 187 patients with locally advanced non-metastatic CCRCC patients (pT3-T4 N0M0). The cut-off point of NLR = 2.5 was obtained using the receiver operating curve analysis (ROC). NLR was obtained preoperatively and calculated by dividing absolute neutrophil count by absolute lymphocyte count. Overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) were evaluated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Cox regression models were utilized to evaluate predictors of recurrence and survival. Results: Median follow up was 48.7 months. The 3 year OS was significantly lower for patients with NLR ≥ 2.5 than those with NLR < 2.5 (70% vs 85%, p = 0.049). In patients with a Fuhrman nuclear grade of differentiation of 3-4, the median time to recurrence was significantly shorter for patients with NLR ≥ compared to those with NLR < 4 (24 vs 55 months p 0.045). On multivariable analysis adjusted for NLR ≥ 2.5, microvascular invasion, sarcomatoid differentiation, tumor size and body mass index, only nuclear grade of differentiation was found to be an independent predictor for recurrence (hazard ratio= 2.18; 95% confidence interval CI: 1.07 – 4.92, p = 0.03). Conclusions: Patients with non-metastatic CCRCC with higher nuclear grade of differentiation and a high preoperative NLR have shorter RFS and worse OS compared to patients with lower NLR.
