Sjogren's syndrome associated with multiple myeloma

Sjogren's syndrome (SS) is a chronic autoimmune disease of unknown etiology characterized by lymphocytic infiltration of the exocrine glands and a pol yclonal B-cell activation: it is demonstrated by the presence of multiple a utoantibodies against organ- and non-organ-specific autoantigens, SS is ass ociated with malignant lymphomas, Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia and benig n monoclonal gammopathy, while its relationship with multiple myeloma is ex tremely rare. The association between multiple myeloma and rheumatoid arthr itis and other autoimmune diseases has been established, but it is not clea r why a B-cell proliferation like myeloma occurs more rarely than other B-c ell disorders in patients with SS, We describe a patient who presented with multiple myeloma and SS that might have existed for at least 2 years prior to the appearance of myeloma.