Sjogren's Syndrome Foundation: Peripheral Neuropathy and Sjogren's

The Sjogren's Syndrome Foundation has published yet another of it's excellent patient education sheets.

Patient Education Sheet

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Peripheral Neuropathy and Sjogren's 

The SSF thanks Julius Birnbaum, MD for authoring this Patient Education Sheet. A rheumatologist and neurologist, Dr. Birnbaum is Assistant Director of the Johns Hopkins Jerome L. Greene Sjogren's Syndrome Center, Baltimore, Maryland.

There are many different types of neuropathies in Sjogren's syndrome. These neuropathies can have different causes and may require different diagnostic techniques and different therapeutic strategies. Unlike other autoimmune disorders, in which the neuropathies predominantly cause weakness, the neuropathies in Sjogren's primarily affects sensation and also can cause severe pain. recognition of unique patterns and causes of neuropathies in Sjogren's is important in arriving at appropriate therapies. 

• Recognize that neuropathic pain is a chronic disease. Just as most causes of neuropathies and neuropathic pain in Sjogren's do not come on suddenly, reduction of neuropathic pain can take a while. 
• Initial and predominant neuropathies in Sjogren's can occur anywhere - in the feet, thighs, hands, arms, torso and/or face.
• Many different symptomatic therapies for neuropathic pain are available. Both physician and patient awareness of potential benefits and side-effects can help tailor an appropriate approach. 
• While the class of tricyclic anti-depressants (TCAs) often constitute and first-line tier of therapy in other neuropathy syndromes, the TCAs can increase mouth and eye dryness and therefore are not routinely used as front-line therapies in most Sjogren's patients.
• Electrophysiologic tests may help in the diagnosis of neuropathies affecting larger nerves which are coated by an insulator called myelin. However, neuropathies affecting smaller-fiber nerves that lack this myelin coating cannot be detected with these tests. 
• Special diagnostic tests, including the technique of superficial, punch skin biopsies (small biopsies of 3 millimeters and not requiring any stitches), can help in the diagnosis. 
• A relatively rare neuropathy can cause significant weakness in Sjogren's patients. In contrast to other neuropathies which develop slowly, this neuropathy can present with very abrupt-onset of weakness. This so-called "mononeuritis multiplex" occurs because the blood flow through vessels which nourishes nerves is suddenly compromised.
• In general, immunosuppresive medications are almost always warranted to treat "mononeuritis multiplex" neuropathy. In contrast, the rol of immunosuppressives is not well-established in other neuropathies, including neuropathies that cause pain but are not associated with weakness.
• Sjogren's patients frequently wonder whether pain associated with a neuropathy means they are at an increased risk for more severe motor weakness. While there are exceptions, if weakness is not present at onset, it most likely will not occur. 
• Neuropathic pain can be alleviated and assuaged, although there may initially be a 'trial-and-error" process with different and perhaps multiple agents. 

For more information on Sjogren's syndrome contact the Sjogren's syndrome foundation at: 6707 Democracy Blvd, Suite 325, Bethesda, MD  20817   *800-473-6473*  www.sjogrens.org  * ssf@sjogrens.org *