Patients were assessed for primary Sjögren’s Syndrome (pSS) based on the American-European Classification Criteria26, where diagnosis of pSS required focal lymphocytic sialadenitis score (FS) of ≥ 1 or presence of anti-SSA/Ro or anti-SSB/La autoantibodies, as well as ocular symptoms of dry eyes, oral symptoms of dry mouth, positive Schirmer’s test, and reduced unstimulated salivary flow ≤ 1.5 mL in 15 min (at least four positive tests including symptoms, or three objective tests). Here, SSB is linked to dry eye syndrome.