Cerebrospinal fluid anti-SSA autoantibodies in primary Sjogren's syndrome with central nervous system involvement

Abstract

Background: Central nervous system involvement in primary Sjogren's syndrome is a matter of controversy, and its diagnosis remains difficult.

Methods: We report 3 patients with primary Sjogren's syndrome and central nervous system involvement in whom we assessed intrathecal immunoglobulin G synthesis and the presence of cerebrospinal fluid anti-SSA and anti-SSB autoantibodies.

Results: We found intrathecal immunoglobulin G synthesis and presence of cerebrospinal fluid anti-SSA autoantibodies in all patients, with demonstration for the first time of specific anti-SSA autoantibody intrathecal synthesis in 2 patients.

Conclusion: We suggest that cerebrospinal fluid anti-SSA autoantibodies could serve as a biomarker for Sjogren's-syndrome-related central nervous system involvement.