Renal involvement in Sjögren's syndrome

Area of Science:

• Nephrology
• Rheumatology
• Immunology

Background:

• Sjögren's syndrome is a chronic autoimmune disease primarily affecting exocrine glands.
• Renal involvement is an infrequent but serious complication of Sjögren's syndrome.

Observation:

• A case of a woman with Sjögren's syndrome presenting with severe renal complications is described.
• The patient exhibited hypergammaglobulinaemic renal tubular acidosis and a renal tubular concentrating defect.
• The underlying cause was identified as severe tubulointerstitial nephritis.

Findings:

• The patient developed significant renal failure.
• Despite the severity of renal involvement, a notable response to corticosteroid therapy was observed.
• This suggests a potential role for immunosuppressive treatment in managing renal complications of Sjögren's syndrome.

Implications:

• This case highlights the importance of monitoring renal function in patients with Sjögren's syndrome.
• Early recognition and treatment of tubulointerstitial nephritis may improve renal outcomes.
• Corticosteroid therapy can be effective in managing severe renal manifestations of Sjögren's syndrome.