Gastrointestinal and liver lesions in primary childhood Sjögren syndrome

Abstract

Sjögren syndrome (SS) is characterized by lymphocytic infiltration of exocrine glands, mainly the lacrimal and salivary glands, leading to keratoconjunctivitis sicca and xerostomia. SS is one of the most common autoimmune rheumatic diseases in adults; however, few cases of primary childhood SS with gastrointestinal and liver lesions have been reported in the literature. We report five cases of primary childhood SS with gastrointestinal and liver lesions. Multiple gastric biopsies in four cases revealed atrophic gastritis in the antrum of the stomach or chronic gastritis. Liver biopsies in two cases revealed nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. Careful clinical approach and follow-up for gastrointestinal and liver lesions are required.

Clinical characteristics and esophageal motility in Sjögren's syndrome: A single‐center study in Taiwan

“…Sjögren's syndrome consists of disorders of exocrine glands of the whole body, which might cause dysfunctions of the gastrointestinal system from the mouth, esophagus, and bowel to the liver and pancreas. [15][16][17][18] In the present study, 11 (84.6%) Sjögren's syndrome patients had dysphagia, seven (53.8%) had acid regurgitation, three (23%) had heartburn, one (7.7%) had cough, and two (15.4%) complained of sore throats, findings that were consistent with those of previous studies. [19][20][21] Subjective swallowing difficulties were more common in the Sjögren's syndrome group than in the control group, but objective signs of pharyngeal and esophageal dysmotility were not.…”

Autoimmune atrophic gastritis: The role of Helicobacter pylori infection in children

“…Interestingly, 3 of these patients had normal VitB12 levels 18 . Autoimmune gastritis has been reported in children with IDA, 17‐19 type 1 diabetes mellitus, 20 Sjögren syndrome, 21 autoimmune thyroid disease, 22,23 and autoimmune hepatitis 24 . We identified Behcet's disease in a child with AIG which represents a new coincidence.…”

“…Autoimmune atrophic gastritis is a very rare entity in children, and there are only a few reports in the literature 16‐21 . It was first reported in 1972 in a child with hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, and autoantibody 16 .…”