Objective: To report a case of choreoathetoid-like movements associated to primary Sjögren syndrome.

Background: Autoimmune diseases are not uncommon causes of movement disorders. Two percent of primary Sjögren syndrome patients will develop movement disorders.1,2

Methods: Case report.

Results: A 74 y.o. woman presented with 2-month history of involuntary movements and non-specific muscular pains. Physical examination revealed xerophthalmia and xerostomía. She had slow ondulating movements of her arms, trunk, and legs. The movements seem to flow from one side to the other. Her movements did not followed a specific pattern and predominated at rest. Brain MRI revealed no abnormalities. Her proinflammatory profile was abnormal and her autoinmune profile revealed positivity for antinuclear antibodies, rheumatoid factor, anti SCl-70, and anticentromere. In addition, Anti-SSA antibodies were positive. Her salivary gland biopsy was positive and diagnosis of primary Sjögren syndrome was made. She was started on hydroxychloroquine, pilocarpine, gabapentin, and clonazepam. Patient reported 80% improvement at 3-month follow-up.

Conclusions: Clinicians should consider Sjögren syndrome as subacute presentation of choreo-athetoid movements in adult patients. Treatment chorea-like syndromes should be individualized to each patient.

References: 1. Tincani A, Andreoli L, Cavazzana I, et al. Novel aspects of Sjogren’s syndrome in 2012. BMC Med 2013;11:93. 2. Baizabal-Carvallo JF, Jankovic J. Movement disorders in autoimmune diseases. Mov Disord 2012;27:935-946.

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MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/generalized-choreoathetoid-like-movements-in-primary-sjogren-syndrome/