Multiple Sclerosis Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Multiple Sclerosis, including details on diagnosis, symptoms, treatment, prognosis.

Long time interval between multiple sclerosis onset and occurrence of primary Sjögren's syndrome in a woman treated with interferon-beta.

De Santi L, Costantini MC, Annunziata P

Department of Neurological and Behavioural Sciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy.

Primary Sjören's syndrome with central nervous system involvement can clinically mimic multiple sclerosis (MS). However, SS and MS may coexist. We report here a case of a 48-year-old woman affected by relapsing-remitting MS, good responder to interferon (IFN)-beta 1a, developing sicca complex after 29 years from MS onset. At the age of 48, after 5 years successful treatment with i.m. IFN-beta 1a, xerophtalmia and xerostomia with dysphagia occurred. Autoantibody screening for connective tissue diseases, including anti-ENA, was negative. Schirmer's test showed reduced lacrimal gland function and a minor salivary gland biopsy showed chronic inflammatory infiltration with fibrosis, acinar atrophy and ductal ectasia. According to clinical and pathological findings a diagnosis of SS was made. Other cases of connective tissue diseases after IFN-beta treatment have been described. However, this is, to our knowledge, the first report on the development of primary SS after long time interval from MS onset in a woman treated with IFN-beta. Although there are no evidences about a possible role of IFN-beta in triggering SS yet, a screening for clinical and laboratory signs of SS should be assessed in MS patients during IFN-beta treatment.

Published 15 August 2005 in Acta Neurol Scand, 112(3): 194-6.
Full-text of this article is available online (may require subscription).

© 2004-2008 Multiple Sclerosis Research Today. All Rights Reserved.