Spectrum of Neuro-Sjogren's syndrome in a tertiary care center in south India

Renal tubular acidosis in Sjögren's syndrome: a case series

BACKGROUND

The exact frequency of distal and proximal renal tubular acidosis (RTA) in Sjögren's syndrome is unknown. Other features of Sjögren's syndrome like polyuria, glomerular manifestations, familial occurrence and pregnancy are not widely reported. The aim was to prospectively study the clinical features and outcome of distal and proximal RTA in Sjögren's syndrome and also report on other renal manifestations of Sjögren's syndrome.

METHODS

The present study is a prospective consecutive case series of patients who presented with a history suggestive of RTA and Sjögren's syndrome. All patients were followed for 1 year. The diagnosis of RTA was by fractional excretion of bicarbonate. The diagnosis of Sjögren's syndrome was according to the American-European classification system [modified by Tzioufas and Voulgarelis: Best Pract Res Clin Rheumatol 2007;21:989-1010].

RESULTS

The total number of RTA patients diagnosed during this period was 149. Sjögren's syndrome accounted for 34.8% (52 of 149) of RTA patients. The important symptoms and laboratory parameters were oral and ocular symptoms in 23 (44.2%), dental caries in 12 (23%), body pains in 47 (90.3%), mean serum pH 7.202 ± 0.03, mean serum bicarbonate, 14.03 ± 1.66 mmol/l, and mean urine pH, 7.125 ± 0.54. There were 30 (57.6%) patients with distal RTA and 22 (42.3%) patients with proximal RTA.

CONCLUSIONS

The clinical implication of the present study is that RTA is a common feature of Sjögren's syndrome. It may be missed if the presentation is not due to oral and ocular symptoms. The present study is also the only one with a 1-year follow-up.

Neurologic Complications Associated with Sjögren's Disease: Case Reports and Modern Pathogenic Dilemma

Objectives. Sjögren's syndrome (SS) may be complicated by some neurological manifestations, generally sensory polyneuropathy. Furthermore, involvement of cranial nerves was described as rare complications of SS. Methods. We reported 2 cases: the first one was a 40-year-old woman who developed neuritis of the left optic nerve as presenting symptom few years before the diagnosis of SS; the second was a 54-year-old woman who presented a paralysis of the right phrenic nerve 7 years after the SS onset. An exhaustive review of the literature on patients with cranial or phrenic nerve involvements was also carried out. Results. To the best of our knowledge, our second case represents the first observation of SS-associated phrenic nerve mononeuritis, while optic neuritis represents the most frequent cranial nerve involvement detectable in this connective tissue disease. Trigeminal neuropathy is also frequently reported, whereas neuritis involving the other cranial nerves is quite rare. Conclusions. Cranial nerve injury is a harmful complication of SS, even if less commonly recorded compared to peripheral neuropathy. Neurological manifestations may precede the clinical onset of SS; therefore, in patients with apparently isolated cranial nerve involvement, a correct diagnosis of the underlying SS is often delayed or overlooked entirely; in these instances, standard clinicoserological assessment is recommendable.

Acute myeloneuropathy: An uncommon presentation of Sjögren's syndrome

Sjögren's syndrome is associated with central and peripheral nervous system involvement. The peripheral neuropathy is usually a sensory predominant neuropathy or a cranial neuropathy. Myelopathy is usually of focal, subacute, chronic or relapsing type. Acute myeloneuropathy as the predominant manifestation has not been described in the literature. We describe a middle aged woman who presented with an acute onset motor quadriparesis and bladder dysfunction. She had dryness of eyes and mouth for 8 months. Nerve conduction studies revealed motor axonal neuropathy and magnetic resonance imaging of spinal cord showed T2 hyperintensities involving entire cord. Mild perineural fibrosis, focal foamy changes in endoneurium and lymphocytic infiltration were seen in sural nerve biopsy specimen. Patient improved clinically after intravenous methylprednisolone therapy.