Brainstem Involvement in Sjögren's Syndrome-Related Sensory Neuronopathy

Authors: Damasceno, Alfredo; França Jr., Marcondes C.; Zanardi, Verônica A.; Nucci, Anamarli

Source: Journal of Neuroimaging, Volume 20, Number 4, October 2010 , pp. 397-399(3)

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Abstract:

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Sensory neuronopathies (SN) are peripheral nervous system disorders associated with degeneration of dorsal root ganglion neurons. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies have shown abnormalities limited to T2-weighted high signal intensity in the posterior columns. METHODS AND RESULTS

A 65-year-old woman with Sjögren syndrome had slowly progressive unsteadiness of gait and limb paresthesias. A blink reflex examination suggested a paramedian brainstem lesion, confirmed by MRI. CONCLUSIONS

Sjögren's syndrome-related SN may be associated with a more diffuse immune-mediated aggression, involving also the brainstem, and leading to some of the blink reflex abnormalities observed in nonparaneoplastic SN.

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1552-6569.2009.00393.x

Affiliations: 1: From the Departments of Neurology (AD, MCF, AN) and Radiology (VAZ), School of Medicine, State University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, Brazil.

Publication date: 2010-10-01