[A case of primary Sjögren's syndrome presenting with aseptic meningoencephalitis associated with sarcoidosis].

A 64-year-old Japanese woman with sarcoidosis and primary Sjögren's syndrome was admitted to our hospital in January 1998 for consciousness loss. Physical examination revealed meningeal signs and hyperreflexia in the lower limbs. Laboratory investigations showed hypergammaglobulinemia and high titers of autoantibodies such as RF, ANA, anti SS-A and SS-B antibody. In addition, she had keratoconjunctivitis, and an apple-tree pattern was observed in sialography, but serum ACE was normal. In the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), the cell count, total protein, and interleukin 6 (IL-6) were increased, but ACE in CSF was normal. We diagnosed the case as primary Sjögren's syndrome presenting with aseptic meningoencephalitis. After treatment with prednisolone, her manifestations and CSF findings including IL-6 resolved. Therefore, the level of IL-6 in CSF may be an indicator for the activity of primary Sjögren's syndrome associated with central nervous manifestations.