A Case of Sensorimotor Polyneuropathy in a Patient with Sjögren's Syndrome

Sjogren’s syndrome is a chronic inflammatory disorder characterized by lymphocytic infiltration of the exocrine glands, especially the lacrimal and salivary glands. Although it is characterized primarily by a particular form of dry eyes (keratoconjunctivitis sicca) and a dry mouth (xerostomia), this condition may affect a wide variety of organ systems, including the skin, lungs, heart, and kidneys, and it may rarely have neurological manifestations. The peripheral neuropathy results from nerve damage due to vasculitis or nerve sheath demyelination, which adversely affects the ability of nerves to send messages. We report the case of a 71-year-old woman who presented with polyneuropathy of the lower limbs that was diagnosed as Sjogren’s syndrome but progressed to muscle atrophy during her treatment. (Korean J Med 2011;81:273-278)