Renal failure and pleural effusion; a diagnostic challenge

Sjögren’s syndrome is a chronic inflammatory disorder mostly involving the exocrine glands. Extraglandular disease may occur in up to one quarter of patients. Kidney involvement is rare, more often manifested by tubular dysfunction secondary to tubulointerstitial nephritis. Primary glomerular diseas...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Sara Cardoso Fernandes, Joana Marques, Mário Pinto, Mário Góis, Helena Sousa, Fernando Nolasco
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Society of Diabetic Nephropathy Prevention 2023-06-01
Series:Journal of Nephropathology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://nephropathol.com/PDF/jnp-12-e17309.pdf
Description
Summary:Sjögren’s syndrome is a chronic inflammatory disorder mostly involving the exocrine glands. Extraglandular disease may occur in up to one quarter of patients. Kidney involvement is rare, more often manifested by tubular dysfunction secondary to tubulointerstitial nephritis. Primary glomerular disease is uncommon. The authors present the case of a 73-year-old woman with xerostomia and positivity for anti-Ro and anti-La antibodies admitted for acute kidney injury and exudative pleural effusion. Biopsy of salivary glands was compatible with Sjögren’s syndrome. Extraglandular involvement was also confirmed by renal and pleural deposition of AA-amyloid. The patient was started on prednisolone followed by azathioprine with rapid improvement of lung disease. However, due to progressing renal disease and clinical deterioration, prognosis was guarded and the patient died. We describe a case of secondary amyloidosis with systemic involvement and infrequent clinical manifestations, briefly reviewing the key aspects of Sjögren’s syndrome and AA-amyloidosis.
ISSN:2251-8363
2251-8819