Primary Sjögren's syndrome related optic neuritis.

Aim: To determine the clinical features, diagnosis and treatment of the primary Sjögren syndrome (SS) related optic neuritis.

Methods: The clinical data of 8 patients (12 eyes) with primary SS related optic neuritis were analyzed retrospectively.

Results: Eight of 128 consecutive patients with optic neuritis resulted from varied causes fulfilled the diagnostic criteria for the primary SS. They presented initially with the signs and symptoms of non-specific optic neuritis, and 5 patients presenting without dryness showed a chronic inflammation of submandibular gland or parotid gland, and lymphocyte infiltration was demonstrated by labial gland biopsy in 2 patients. There were serum positive titers for anti-Sjögren syndrome A (SSA) in 7 patients and anti-Sjögren syndrome B (SSB) in 8 patients. Anti-aquaporin-4 (AQP4) antibody was negative in all the 8 patients. Both glucocorticoids and immunosuppressive agent were administered, and visual acuity elevated in 8 eyes (66.7%), 3 patients (37.5%) recurred in the follow-up.

Conclusion: Primary SS related optic neuritis is less common and easily misdiagnosed. The conventional therapies for optic neuritis could not control the recurrence.