Concomitant diagnosis of primary Sjögren's syndrome and systemic AL amyloidosis.

Abstract

A 48 year old woman was referred to hospital for buccal discomfort. Physical examination showed a macroglossia and features of xerostomia. She was diagnosed as having primary Sjögren's syndrome according to the criteria proposed by the European Community study group in 1993. Furthermore, a lower lip salivary gland biopsy showed amyloid deposits that were also seen in the stomach and in the bone marrow. Echocardiography was consistent with cardiac amyloidosis. Serum immunofixation identified a monoclonal IgGlambda. As far as is known, this is the first report of systemic primary amyloidosis associated with Sjögren's syndrome. The relation between these two disorders is discussed.