Panniculitis; A Rare Cutaneous Mafestation of Sjögren’s Syndrome

Abstract

Objective: Panniculitis, an inflammatory disorder primarily affecting subcutaneous adipose tissue, is frequently associated with inflammatory rheumatic diseases. Panniculitis is an uncommon cutaneous manifestation of Sjögren's syndrome (SS), an autoimmune disease primarily known for causing dry eyes and mouth.

Case: We report the case of a 56-year-old female initially diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, who later met the 2016 ACR-EULAR criteria for primary Sjögren’s syndrome. Following several treatments, she developed nodular lesions in the interscapular area, which were later diagnosed as septal panniculitis associated with SS. Panniculitis can sometimes precede the formal diagnosis of systemic diseases, such as SS. Therefore, it is essential to consider conditions like Sjögren syndrome in the differential diagnosis of unexplained panniculitis.

Conclusion: This case underscores the potential link between Sjögren's syndrome and panniculitis. Panniculitis may manifest before the formal diagnosis of Sjögren's syndrome. It is imperative to include connective tissue diseases, including not only the more common lupus erythematosus and dermatomyositis but also Sjögren's syndrome, in the differential diagnosis when confronted with unexplained cases of panniculitis