Parkinsonism and Sjögren’s Syndrome: A Fortuitous Association or a Shared Immunopathogenesis?

Abstract

Background. The Sjögren Syndrome (SS) can include various manifestations of central nervous system impairment. Extrapyramidal signs are known to be very rare and unusually discovered on early onset in this pathology. Observation. A 46-year-old woman with a history of progressive Parkinsonism for 6 years and a normal brain magnetic resonance imaging was partially improved with levodopa therapy. The later discovery of a sicca syndrome led to performing of further investigations, which revealed the presence of anti-SSA antibodies and a sialoadenitis of grade 4 according to Chisholm’s classification on labial salivary gland biopsy. The diagnosis of primary SS was established and the adjunction of corticotherapy has remarkably improved Parkinson’s signs without use of other immunosuppressive agents. Conclusion. Based on these findings, we discuss the hypothesis of either a causal link between SS and Parkinsonism or a fortuitous association of two distinct pathologies with or without a shared immunopathogenesis.