Subacute sensory neuronopathy secondary to dorsal root ganglionitis in primary Sjögren's syndrome

K Malinow, GD Yannakakis… - Annals of Neurology …, 1986 - Wiley Online Library
K Malinow, GD Yannakakis, SM Glusman, DW Edlow, J Griffin, A Pestronk, DL Powell…
Annals of Neurology: Official Journal of the American Neurological …, 1986Wiley Online Library
Sensory neuropathies, particularly trigeminal neuropathy, have been recognized as
neurological complications of Sjögren's syndrome, but the pathogenesis has not been
established. We describe a woman with primary Sjögren's syndrome who developed a
progressive debilitating subacute sensory neuronopathy. Results of electrophysiological
studies were consistent with involvement of the trigeminal and dorsal root ganglia. A thoracic
dorsal root ganglion biopsy showed lymphocytic infiltration and degeneration of ganglion …
Abstract
Sensory neuropathies, particularly trigeminal neuropathy, have been recognized as neurological complications of Sjögren's syndrome, but the pathogenesis has not been established. We describe a woman with primary Sjögren's syndrome who developed a progressive debilitating subacute sensory neuronopathy. Results of electrophysiological studies were consistent with involvement of the trigeminal and dorsal root ganglia. A thoracic dorsal root ganglion biopsy showed lymphocytic infiltration and degeneration of ganglion cells. We believe that this is the first description of biopsy-documented dorsal root ganglionitis in a subacute sensory neuronopathy associated with Sjögren's syndrome and that the finding suggests an immunopathogenic basis.
Wiley Online Library