A Case of Gougerot Sjögren Syndrome (SGS) Discovered by Chronic Pulmonary Impairment at the Nianankoro Fomba Hospital in Segou

Abstract

Introduction: Sjögren's syndrome (SS) is a systemic autoimmune disease whose target is the epithelium of the exocrine glands and in particular the salivary glands. SS affects women more often with a sex ratio of 9 women to 1 man and the peak frequency is around age 50. It is mainly described in Western literature where it seems to come second after RA. In Africa, it is mainly reported in the Maghreb. We report a case, revealed by pulmonary damage at the Nianankoro Fomba hospital in Ségou. Observation: This was a patient, aged 50, without any particular ATCD, who had consulted for chronic cough with mucco-purulent sputum and dyspnea, which had been present for more than four (4) months. Faced with the failure of a trial anti-tuberculosis treatment despite the negativity of the sputum testing for BARR in the Pneumophthisiology department, she decided to consult internal medicine. Clinical examination revealed NYHA stage III dyspnea. A chest CT concluded with bilateral pulmonary parenchymal interstitial syndrome associated with inflammatory bronchopathy with bronchiectasis. The immunological assessment revealed positive anti–SSA and anti–SSB Abs. Clinical improvement was obtained after initiation of corticosteroids and immunosuppressants. Conclusion: This observation illustrates the interest of looking for latent SS in the etiological assessment of a persistent cough.