근력약화와 따끔거림을 주소로 내원한 환자에서 일차성쇼그렌 증후군에서 병발한 다발신경병증을 진단하고 고용량 스테로이드 치료 및 면역억제제 치료하며 경과관찰 중 근위축까지 진행된 1예를 경험하였기에 문헌고찰과 함께 증례 보고하는 바이다.

Sjogren`s syndrome is a chronic inflammatory disorder characterized by lymphocytic infiltration of the exocrine glands, especially the lacrimal and salivary glands. Although it is characterized primarily by a particular form of dry eyes (keratoconjunctivitis sicca) and a dry mouth (xerostomia), this condition may affect a wide variety of organ systems, including the skin, lungs, heart, and kidneys, and it may rarely have neurological manifestations. The peripheral neuropathy results from nerve damage due to vasculitis or nerve sheath demyelination, which adversely affects the ability of nerves to send messages. We report the case of a 71-year-old woman who presented with polyneuropathy of the lower limbs that was diagnosed as Sjogren`s syndrome but progressed to muscle atrophy during her treatment. (Korean J Med 2011;81:273-278)