OBJECTIVE: To probe into the efficacy of rituximab in the treatment of recurrent primary Sj9 gren syndrome（pSS） associated dry eye

so as to provide reference for clinical treatment. METHODS: Totally 81 patients with recurrent pSS associated xerophthalmia admitted into this hospital from Jan. 2015 to Aug. 2021 were selected and divided into two groups by random number table. The control group（41 cases

82 eyes） was given prednisone acetate

hydroxychloroquine sulfate and cyclophosphamide for systemic administration and topical eye drops for 8 weeks; while the observation group（40 cases

80 eyes） were given rituximab 375 mg/m~2 for intravenous drip based on the control group

once a week for 8 weeks. Scores of the standard patient evaluation of eye dryness（SPEED） questionnaire

rupture time of tear film

scores of Schirmer Ⅰ tear secretion test and corneal fluorescein staining of the two groups were observed

incidence of adverse drug reactions and recurrence during follow-up were recorded. RESULTS: After treatment

the SPEED scores of eye dryness

foreign body sensation

pain

burning sensation or tearing and total score

and scores of corneal fluorescein staining of both groups were significantly lower than before treatment

the rupture time of tear film was longer than before treatment

and the length of Schirmer I tear secretion-soaked filter paper was increased compared with before treatment in both groups

with statistically significant differences（P<0.01）. The SPEED scores of eye dryness [（2.15±0.36） points vs.（3.26±0.47） points]

foreign body sensation [（2.11±0.28） points vs.（3.02±0.40） points]

pain [（2.03±0.28） points vs.（2.95±0.36） points]

burning sensation or tearing [（1.26±0.24） points vs.（2.15±0.39） points] and total score [（7.55±1.46） points vs.（11.38±2.74） points]

and scores of corneal fluorescein staining [（3.11±0.53） points vs.（4.02±0.69） points] of the observation group were lower than those of the control group after treatment

and the rupture time of tear film [（9.57±2.03） s vs.（7.35±1.95） s] of the observation group was longer than that of the control group

the length of Schirmer Ⅰ tear secretion-soaked filter paper [（8.97±2.17） mm vs.（6.95±1.72） mm] of the observation group was greater than that of the control group

with statistically significant differences（P<0.01）. The recurrence rate of the observation group [5.00%（2/40） vs. 24.39%（10/41）] was lower than that of the control group

with statistically significant difference（P<0.05）. The difference in the incidences of adverse drug reactions between two groups was not statistically significant（P>0.05）. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with conventional treatment

the application of rituximab for recurrent pSS associated dry eye can significantly induced lacrimal secretion

improved dry eye symptoms and reduced the risk of recurrence.