Title:Co-Existence of Sarcoidosis and Sjögren’s Syndrome with Hypercalcemia and Renal Involvement: A Case Report and Literature Review
Volume: 21
Issue: 4
Author(s): Jing Xu, Yumei Yang, Dandan Chen, Zhiqiang Lu, Junbo Ge, Xiaomu Li*Xin Gao
Affiliation:
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai,China
Keywords:
Sjögren’s syndrome, sarcoidosis, hypercalcemia, renal failure, calcium concentration, serum, urine.
Abstract:
Background: Sarcoidosis and Sjögren's syndrome (SS) are chronic multi-system
inflammatory diseases of unknown origin that most commonly attack the salivary glands. Both of the
diseases have vague and non-specific symptoms, causing difficulties for the clinicians to distinguish
between the two diseases. Main diagnostic criteria of SS exclude sarcoidosis. However, a co-existence
of both diseases should be noted. Here, a case of co-existing sarcoidosis and Sjögren's syndrome is
reported, complicated with severe hypercalcemia and renal failure, in addition to a literature review.
Case Presentation: A 71-year-old man visited our hospital complaining of daily progressive oral dryness,
thirst, and blurred vision with a feeling of dry eyes for a one-year duration. His physical examination
showed enlargement of both sides of cervical and supraclavicular lymph nodes. Lung auscultation
showed decreased breath sounds with bibasilar inspiratory crackles. However, initial laboratory results
revealed severe hypercalcemia with moderate hypercalciuria and renal failure. The final diagnosis was
co-existing SS and sarcoidosis according to clinical, radiological, and laboratory data. The patient received
oral prednisone therapy for 18 months. After a follow-up of years, the serum calcium concentration,
renal function, and chest CT scan remained normal after prednisone treatment stopped for more
than 18 months.
Conclusion: In the literature, calcium metabolic disorder and renal involvement have not been reported
among patients with Sarcoidosis and Sjögren's syndrome, suggesting that calcium metabolic
disorder may be underestimated. Serum and urine calcium concentration should be measured in addition
to routine laboratory tests.