In 14 (18.9%) of the 74 SLE patients, the SLE was complicated by sSS, and its incidence in the anti-SSB antibody-positive cases (36.84%) was higher than that in the anti-SSB antibody-negative cases (12.73%; χ2=5.353; P=0.021). This evidence concerns the gene SSB and systemic lupus erythematosus.