Recurrent optic neuritis in a patient with Sjogren syndrome and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder: A case report

Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) patients, especially those with anti-aquaporin-4 antibody positivity, a water channel expressed on astrocytes, is often accompanied by autoimmune diseases (ADs) including Sjogren syndrome (SS). Here, we report a case of a young Chinese woman with recurrent optic neuritis who was diagnosed with asymptomatic SS and NMOSD.

A 22-year-old Chinese woman suffered from optic neuritis for 3 years. The main manifestation was recurrent loss of vision. The anti-aquaporin-4 antibody was positive in the cerebrospinal fluid, and she was diagnosed with NMOSD. Other laboratory tests revealed positive anti-SSA and anti-SSB antibodies, and labial gland biopsy showed lymphocytic infiltration. She also fulfilled the international criteria for SS.

On the basis of recurrent vision loss and laboratory examination, we defined the patient with SS accompanied by NMOSD.

When the patient first experienced vision loss, the corticosteroid treatment in the external hospital was effective, and her visual acuity improved significantly. However, in several later attacks, such treatment was no longer obviously effective. Considering the patient's condition, she was treated with corticosteroids, cyclophosphamide, and immunoglobulin therapy on admission.

The patient's visual acuity was increased to the right eye 20/800 and left eye finger counting when she was discharged from the hospital.

SS accompanied with NMOSD is common in clinical practice, and always with the positive Anti-AQP4 antibody as a potential biomarker. Patients with SS and NMOSD showed significant neurological symptoms and had a worse prognosis than SS patients with negative anti-AQP4 antibody because of cross-immunity between anti-SSA antibody and anti-AQP4 antibody. Rheumatologists and ophthalmologists should pay attention to this and perform appropriate tests.