Autonomic neuropathy associated with sicca complex

R. Alan Wright, Ian A. Grant, Phillip A. Low

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

54 Scopus citations

Abstract

We retrospectively studied 52 patients with sicca complex who presented primarily with peripheral neuropathic symptoms to assess the degree of autonomic involvement and its relationship to somatic neuropathy, serological tests and extraglandular disease. One patient presented with severe panautonomic dysfunction, with another six patients reporting prominent autonomic symptoms, and a further 40 patients having mild or asymptomatic disease. Eighty-seven percent of patients showed abnormalities on an autonomic reflex screen (ARS). Fifty-eight percent of patients showed a mixed pattern of autonomic dysfunction with abnormalities in two or more ARS subgroups of sudomotor, cardiovagal and adrenergic function. Three patients had a cholinergic autonomic neuropathy with sparing of adrenergic function. Tonic pupils were present in 13 patients. Autonomic neuropathy occurred in patients with a variety of somatic neuropathy subtypes, without a clear relationship between the type of autonomic neuropathy and the type of somatic peripheral neuropathy. Extraglandular disease was uncommon, occurring in only four patients. Serological abnormalities (extractable nuclear antigen [ENA], SS-A, SS-B) occurred in 20% of patients. We conclude that: (1) A wide spectrum of autonomic dysfunction is seen in sicca complex. (2) Severe autonomic involvement is uncommon, with most patients showing mildly symptomatic or asymptomatic disease. (3) Overall, characteristic patterns of autonomic dysfunction did not predominate, and there were no clear relationships with the different types of somatic peripheral neuropathy. (4) Clinical and serological evidence of non-neurological extraglandular disease is uncommon in this group of patients. Copyright (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)70-76
Number of pages7
JournalJournal of the Autonomic Nervous System
Volume75
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 15 1999

Keywords

  • Autonomic neuropathy
  • Sicca complex
  • Sjogren's syndrome

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Neuroscience
  • Physiology
  • Clinical Neurology

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