Refractory Depressive Disorder as the First Manifestation of Adolescent Sjögren's Syndrome, Successfully Treated with Rituximab.

Abstract

The psychiatric manifestations of Sjögren's syndrome are often overlooked despite their prevalence. They can be revelatory of the disease and include anxiety, depression, dementia and, rarely, psychosis. We report a case of 18-year-old female in whom a major depressive syndrome revealed primary Sjögren's disease, with a favourable outcome after treatment with rituximab. The diagnostic of Sjögren's syndrome should be considered in patients who present with unexplained and refractory neuropsychiatric symptoms, even in the absence of sicca symptoms. Psychiatric manifestations secondary to Sjögren's syndrome are not rare but often overlooked.They can be indicative of the disease and precede systemic signs by years.The diagnostic of Sjögren's syndrome should be considered in patients who present with unexplained and refractory neuropsychiatric symptoms, even in the absence of sicca symptoms.