Background Primary Sjögren Syndrome (pSS) is an autoimmune disorder characterized by a chronic lymphocytic and plasmacellular infiltration of exocrine glands and extraglandular features including both peripheral nervous system and central nervous system involvement. However, the diagnosis of pSS with neurologic involvement is sometimes difficult and specially central nervous system manifestations have been rarely described. Objectives To perform an observational retrospective cross-sectional case–control study to evaluate prevalence, clinical patterns and outcomes of neurological involvement in a cohort of pSS patients followed up in a single centre. Methods A total of 91 pSS patients (88 females, 3 male) with a mean age 47,6 years, diagnosed according to the 2002 criteria proposed by the American–European Consensus Group, were evaluated for neurological involvement after exclusion of secondary causes. Demographic, clinical, immunological data were compared between patients with and without neurological involvement. Neuroimaging data and peripheral nerve conduction study with quantitative sensory testing were also analysed. Results Neurological involvement was detected in 24 (26, 4%) patients (all females). The mean age at disease onset and neurological onset were 41,8 and 47,9 years, respectively. Neurologic involvement frequently preceded the diagnosis of pSS in 10 (42%) patients. Fifty (n=12) patients had peripheral system involvement (PNS), 46% (n=11) patients had CNS disorders and 4% (n=1) patients had both PNS and CNS involvement. In patients with PNS involvement, pure sensory neuropathy (small fiber neuropathy confirmed by quantitative sensory testing and sural neuropathy) occurred most frequently (n=5), followed by cranial nerve involvement affecting trigeminal, facial, or trochlear nerves (n=4). Multiple mononeuropathy (n=1), sensorimotor polyneuropathy (n=1), autonomic neuropathy (n=1) and myasthenia gravis (n=1), were also observed. In patients with CNS disorders, headache with MRI abnormalities compatible with inflammatory disease (n=3) occurred most frequently. Spinal cord involvement (n=2), seizures (n=2), motor and sensory deficit (n=2), movement disorders (n=2), aseptic meningitis (n=1) were the other manifestations observed. Cognitive dysfunction was observed in 3 of these patients. Headache was reported in nine patients other than the three mentioned above. The Raynaud’s phenomenon was more common in these patients (p=0, 04).The frequency of constitutional symptoms (such as fever and fatigue) and lung involvement was significantly higher (p<0,05) in pSS with neurological involvement than in pSS without neurological involvement and the articular symptoms were significantly less frequent (p<0,05) in pSS with neurological involvement. There was no statisticalsignificance in other factors parameters between the two groups. The neurologic outcome was good in 58% (n=14) patients. Conclusions Our results showed that neurological complications were present in 26, 4% of all patients with pSS. In other...

No abstract