Semiquantitative methods are needed to improve the diagnosis of vertebral fractures in AS in order to start early treatment and to avoid complications arising from osteoporosis.

Background: The aims of this study were to establish robust reference intervals and to investigate the factors influencing bone turnover markers (BTMs) in healthy premenopausal Spanish women.

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Determination of different forms of 25-OHD in healthy young women does not offer additional advantages over standard 25-OHD for evaluating vitamin D deficiency. In these subjects 25-OHD values <15 ng/ml would be more appropriate for defining this deficiency.

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Objectives To investigate the prevalence, associated factors, and effects of primary renal disease on morbidity in patients with primary Sjögren’s syndrome (pSS).Methods All patients in the SJÖGRENSER (registry of adult SSp patients of the Spanish Society of Rheumatology) cohort were retrospectively investigated for the presence of clinically significant renal involvement directly related to pSS activity.Results Of the 437 patients investigated, 39 (9%) presented overt renal involvement during follow-up. Severe renal disease necessitating kidney biopsy was relatively rare (23%). Renal involvement may complicate pSS at any time during the disease course and is associated with severe disease (indicated by higher scores of involvement, activity, and damage), systemic multiorgan involvement, and a higher frequency of lymphoma. Multivariate analysis showed that older age (odds ratio [OR] 1.03, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.00–1.07), higher European League Against Rheumatism Sjogren’s Syndrome Disease Activity Index scores (OR 1.1, CI 1.03–1.18), serum anti-La/SSB positivity (OR 6.65, CI 1.41–31.372), and non-vasculitic cutaneous involvement (OR 5.47, 1.03–29.02) were independently associated with this complication. Chronic renal failure developed in 23 of 39 patients (59%); only 1 of them progressed to end-stage renal disease necessitating renal replacement therapy. Patients with renal disease showed higher Sjögren’s syndrome disease damage index scores, higher rates of hospitalization due to disease activity and higher rates of clinically relevant comorbidities.Conclusion Renal involvement is an uncommon complication in pSS that was observed in 9% of patients. Although categorized as a non-negligible comorbidity, this condition shows a favorable prognosis.