Peripheral neuropathy in primary sjogren syndrome: a population-based study.
BACKGROUND
Neurological manifestations appear to be frequently involved in patients with primary Sjögren syndrome (PSS).


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the involvement of the peripheral nervous system, including small-diameter nerve fibers, in an unselected cohort of patients who fulfilled the new international criteria for PSS.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study.


METHODS
Stavanger University Hospital. Patients Sixty-two patients with PSS (mean +/- SD age, 57.1 +/- 14.6 years).


METHODS
Clinical neurologic examinations, conventional nerve conduction studies, and skin punch biopsies.


METHODS
Signs of large-diameter and small-diameter peripheral nerve fiber neuropathy as determined by clinical examination, nerve conduction studies, and densities of intraepidermal nerve fibers in skin punch biopsy specimens.


RESULTS
Seventeen patients (27%) were diagnosed as having neuropathy after clinical examination. The results of nerve conduction studies were abnormal in 34 patients (55%): 19 patients (31%) had motor neuropathy, 8 (13%) had sensory neuropathy, and 7 (11%) had sensorimotor neuropathy. Two patients had intraepidermal nerve fiber densities less than 3.4 fibers per millimeter, fitting the morphologic criteria for small-diameter nerve fiber neuropathy.


CONCLUSIONS
Peripheral neuropathy occurs in a large proportion of patients with PSS, in most cases as a subclinical demyelinating neuropathy. Small-diameter nerve fiber neuropathy is not a frequent finding in these patients.
Gøransson
Lasse G
LG
Clinical Immunology Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, Stavanger University Hospital, Stavanger, Norway, Norway. gola@sus.no
Herigstad
Anita
A
Tjensvoll
Anne B
AB
Harboe
Erna
E
Mellgren
Svein I
SI
Omdal
Roald
R
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001706:Biopsy / Q000379:methods; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004558:Electric Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009431:Neural Conduction / Q000502:physiology; D009460:Neurologic Examination / Q000379:methods; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D012859:Sjogren's Syndrome / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology