End-stage renal failure in adolescence with Sjögren's syndrome autoantibodies SSA and SSB

We describe two adolescents who presented with end-stage renal failure and clinical features suggestive of Sjögren's syndrome (SS). They both demonstrated severe, chronic, tubulointerstitial inflammation on renal biopsy, high-titre antinuclear antibodies, high immunoglobulin A and G concentrations, positive anti-SSA and anti-SSB antibodies, and negative anti-double-stranded DNA antibodies. One had subjective and objective evidence of the sicca complex (dry eyes and/or dry mouth) and fulfilled the commonly accepted SS consensus criteria. The other showed no evidence of the sicca complex but fulfilled modified criteria for juvenile SS. SS may be underrecognised as a cause of end-stage renal failure in childhood.