NEUROPHYSIOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT OF PERIPHERAL NEUROPATHY IN PRIMARY SJOGRENS-SYNDROME

Peripheral nervous system complications are rare in patients with prim ary Sjogren's syndrome. We investigated a group of six women aged 43-6 4 years who complained of pain and Sensory symptoms. Conventional neur ophysiological tests reflecting large nerve fiber function revealed no rmal motor conduction in all patients, whereas sensory nerve action po tentials were absent in two. On the other hand, quantitative thermomet ry and autonomic nerve function tests indicating small nerve fiber fun ction were more sensitive in the assessment of nerve dysfunction; thes e showed abnormalities in all cases. Vibrametry showed dysfunctions in four patients. The latter methods possess great sensitivity in discov ering sensory disturbances. Neurophysiological assessment of the senso ry and autonomic nervous system demonstrating sensory neuropathy contr ibutes to early diagnosis of primary Sjogren's syndrome.