Sjogren's syndrome presenting as hypokalemic paralysis with distal renal tubular acidosis: a new case

BACKGROUND: Primary Sjogren's syndrome is associated in 6 to 25% of cases w ith kidney involvement Most often it is a chronic interstitial nephritis, g enerally asymptomatic but sometimes responsible for distal tubular acidosis which can be complicated by severe hypokalemia. CASE REPORT: A 48-year-old woman had hypokalemic quadriplegia, distal renal tubular acidosis and chronic interstitial nephritis at kidney biopsy. Prim ary Sjogren's syndrome was diagnosed. DISCUSSION: We discuss briefly the clinical, biological and immunological f eatures of 18 similar cases reported in the literature.