A Case of Primary Sjögren’s Syndrome Presenting as Mass-Like Encephalitis, With Progression to Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder

Abstract

Neuromyelitis optica is an idiopathic inflammatory demyelinating disease of the central nervous system (CNS) that predominantly affects the optic nerves and spinal cord. With the discovery of the pathogenic anti-aquaporin-4 (AQP4) antibody, the disease was recognized as part of a spectrum of autoimmune diseases that target AQP4, collectively referred to as neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD). NMOSD consists of conditions that affect various parts of the CNS with the AQP4 antibody. In this article, we report a 43-year-old female patient who was initially diagnosed with primary Sjögren’s syndrome (pSS) with CNS involvement, but was later diagnosed with overlapping pSS and NMOSD, which required more intensive treatment. The patient presented with fever, headache, dysarthria, and left-side weakness, and brain imaging showed a mass-like edematous lesion in the right frontoparietal region. She also complained of xerostomia and was diagnosed with pSS by salivary scintigraphy, anti-Sjögren’s syndrome A positivity, and minor salivary gland biopsy. Under the diagnosis of pSS with CNS involvement in the form of tumefactive encephalitis, she was treated with high-dose steroids and monthly intravenous cyclophosphamide therapy. However, three months later, she developed a sudden decrease in right visual acuity and had right optic neuritis. Her serum was positive for the anti-AQP4 antibody, and she was finally diagnosed with overlapping NMOSD and pSS. She was treated with steroid pulse therapy and plasmapheresis. Therefore, in patients with pSS presenting with cerebral white matter lesions, even when optic neuritis or myelitis is absent, evaluations for the anti-AQP4 antibody should be considered to detect and treat NMOSD accordingly.

Introduction

Primary Sjögren’s syndrome (pSS) is a systemic autoimmune disease characterized by chronic inflammation of exocrine glands. At least one- third of pSS patients present with extraglandular systemic features including neurologic, articular, pulmonary, or renal manifestations.(1,2) The prevalence of neurologic manifestations in pSS is reported to range from 2 to 60%.(3) Sensory polyneuropathies are the most common neurologic manifestations, while central nervous system (CNS) involvement in SS is less common.(4) In rare cases, neurologic manifestations of pSS can present as acute meningoencephalitis.(4,5)

Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) is a chronic autoimmune demyelinating disease of the CNS, usually of the optic nerve and spinal cord, that is associated with serum anti-aquaporin-4 (AQP4) immunoglobulin G antibodies, which have a sensitivity of 60~70% and specificity of 99% for the disease.(6) Recent studies have reported the overlap of NMOSD and other autoimmune diseases including pSS and systemic lupus erythematosus, suggesting that these diseases are related.(7-10)

In this article, we describe a rare case of a patient with pSS and NMOSD, who presented as acute mass-like encephalitis and later developed optic neuritis.

Case Report

A 43-year-old female patient presented with acute-onset fever, headache, dysarthria, amnesia, left-side weakness, and dysesthesia. Initial brain computed tomography scans showed a 7 cm, mass-like lesion in the right frontoparietal region, suggesting a brain tumor. However, brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed that

(a) the lesion was largely edema with high T2 signal intensity and no primary mass, accompanied by multiple small lesions in the corpus callosum and periventricular white matter (Figure 1). The cerebrospinal fluid profile showed the following: white blood count, 16/mm(3) and protein, 55 mg/dL. Considering the possibility of encephalitis, empirical antibiotics and acyclovir were administrated, but no improvements in her symptoms or MRI were observed. Under suspicion of tumefactive multiple sclerosis and other demyelinating diseases, intravenous steroid pulse (methylprednisolone 1 g) therapy for five days and subsequent high-dose prednisolone was administered. The patient recovered enough to walk and only a tingling discomfort remained in the left hand. She was referred to a rheumatologist to screen for underlying autoimmune diseases. She had complained of dry mouth for 10 years, but denied having dry eyes. Blood tests showed the following: positive for antinuclear antibody 1:320 (speckled pattern) and anti-SSA/Ro, and negative for anti-SSB/La, anti-double-stranded deoxyribonucleic acid, rheumatoid factor, and anti-phospholipid antibodies, with normal C3/C4 levels. Salivary scintigraphy showed decreased uptake in the submandibular and parotid glands (Figure 2a), and examinations for dry eyes were positive. A minor salivary gland biopsy showed lymphoplasmacytic infiltration with a focus score >2 (Figure 2b). Therefore, she was diagnosed as having pSS with CNS involvement in the form of tumefactive encephalitis. Monthly intravenous cyclophosphamide therapy was started and glucocorticoids were tapered slowly. A written informed consent was obtained from the patient.

Figure 1. Brain magnetic resonance imaging revealed that lesion was largely edema with high T2 signal intensity and no primary mass, accompanied by multiple small lesions in corpus callosum and periventricular white matter.

Figure 2. (a) Salivary scintigraphy showed decreased uptake in the submandibular and parotid glands. (b) A minor salivary gland biopsy showed lymphoplasmacytic infiltration with a focus score >2 (H-E¥400).

Figure 3. (a, b) Orbital magnetic resonance imaging showed interval devel- opment of right optic neuritis. (c, d) Follow-up orbital magnetic resonance imaging after four months showed decreased right optic nerve swelling with disappeared contrast-enhancement, suggesting chronic stage of optic neuritis.

Discussion

Our patient presented with fever, neurological symptoms, and a mass-like edematous lesion in the frontoparietal region suggestive of encephalitis, thus NMOSD was not initially suspected. She was diagnosed with pSS with CNS involvement. However, she went on to develop optic neuritis, and tests for AQP4-immunoglobulin G antibodies were positive, leading to the diagnosis of NMOSD.

According to the 2006 diagnostic criteria for NMOSD, bilateral optic neuritis or longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis lesions were characteristic findings, and normal brain MRI or only nonspecific white matter lesions was a key supportive criterion.(11) However, brain involvement in NMOSD is increasingly being recognized,(12,13) and up to 60% of patients with NMOSD had brain abnormalities on follow-up.(6) Typical patterns of brain involvement in NMOSD, although not pathognomonic, include lesions of the dorsal medulla/area postrema, periependymal regions in the brainstem, diencephalic structures, or cerebral hemispheres or long lesions spanning much of the corpus callosum or corticospinal tracts, corresponding to regions of high AQP4 expression. Large, confluent, or tumefactive cerebral lesions may suggest NMOSD, but in isolation may not be discernible from atypical multiple sclerosis lesions.(6)

The coexistence of NMOSD and pSS is increasingly being reported, and most cases present with optic neuritis or transverse myelitis, making them more easily recognizable.(7,10,14,15) Cases of pSS with NMOSD that present with symptomatic cerebral white matter lesions, without optic neuritis or myelitis, are rare and hard to diagnose. In addition, although the anti-SSA/Ro antibody is frequently detected in patients with NMOSD, one series reported that only 2% of patients with NMOSD met the criteria for pSS.(9,16) To our knowledge, two cases of pSS and NMOSD that were positive for AQP4 antibodies with only cerebral white matter lesions have been reported to date, and one was proven by brain biopsy to be more compatible with NMOSD than with pSS.(14,17) Our patient satisfied the 2012 classification criteria for pSS,(18) and her minor salivary gland biopsy showed typical histopathologic findings of pSS.

Therefore, physicians should consider NMOSD in patients with pSS who present with cerebral white matter lesions and show characteristic MRI findings of NMOSD, even when optic neuritis or spinal cord lesions are not detected. As in this case, such brain lesions can be the initial manifestation of combined pSS and NMOSD, thus checking for the anti- AQP4 antibody may be helpful for establishing a differential diagnosis and the proper treatment strategy.

The authors declared no conflicts of interest with respect to the authorship and/or publication of this article.

The authors received no financial support for the research and/or authorship of this article.

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