We would like to thank Dr Arnaud et al 1 for their comment on our article discussing the prognostic value of salivary gland assessments in primary Sjögren's syndrome ( pSS). 2 One of our findings was that having a lymphocytic focus score (LFS) ≥3 (number of foci/4 mm 2 ) at the time of diagnosis contributes significantly to the risk of lymphoma development during pSS disease course. We agree that the follow-up time after biopsy is important to take into account because differences observed could merely be a result of the time that patients have been followed. As displayed in our article, we therefore analysed the incidence rate of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) per 1000 person-years and showed that the incidence rate was higher for patients with an LFS ≥3 than those with an LFS of either 1 or 2 (NHL incidence rate of 3.7 for LFS=1, 2.4 for LFS=2 and 12.8 for LFS ≥3, respectively, with a total of 1169 person-years at risk).As suggested, we have additionally performed Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and Cox's proportional hazard regression analysis. The Kaplan-Meier curve showed reduced survival for the patient group with an LFS ≥3 (Log-rank test: p=0.009). Using Cox's proportional hazard regression analysis, we observed that an LFS ≥3 was significantly associated with the development of NHL both in a univariate analysis (HR 6.2; 95% CI 1.3 to 29.3; p=0.021) and when adjusting for anti-SSA, anti-SSB, ≤40% immunoglobulin (Ig)A plasma cells and ≥25% IgM plasma cells in salivary gland specimens (HR 9.9; 95% CI 1.2 to 82.4; p=0.034).In addition, in the original manuscript, we had performed multivariable linear regression analysis to assess the association between LFS ≥3 and development of NHL. The results of multivariable logistic regression analysis, which is indeed more appropriate (variables in the equation: anti-SSA, anti-SSB, LFS ≥3, ≤40% IgA plasma cells and ≥25% IgM plasma cells in salivary gland specimens), are comparative to our previously reported findings and show independent and significant prediction for lymphoma development of LFS ≥3 (OR 14.72; 95% CI 1.6 to 136.4; p=0.018).Together, these results confirm our previous analyses that an LFS ≥3 might help to identify pSS patients with an increased risk for development of NHL.