A case of primary Sjögren’s syndrome with pleural effusion, pericardial effusion and ascites

Abstract

Sjögren’s syndrome (SS) is an autoimmune disease with glandular and extraglandular manifestations. In terms of pulmonary and cardiac involvement, pleural and pericardial effusion are rare. We report a case of primary SS (pSS) presenting as pleural effusion, pericardial effusion and ascites. A 58-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with a 2-week history of dyspnea. Bilateral pleural effusion, pericardial effusion and ascites were detected. Primary SS was diagnosed, based on xerophthalmia, xerostomia, positive results for the Shirmer test and anti-SS-A antibody, and abnormal salivary gland sialography. Pleural and pericardial effusion attributed to autoimmunological inflammation and ascites was thought to be due to severe hypoalbuminemia. Treatment with high-dose corticosteroid proved successful.