Successful treatment with intravenous immunoglobulin of severe thrombocytopenia complicated in primary Sjogren's syndrome

Sjogren's syndrome (SS) is a systemic autoimmune disease characterized by xerophthalmia, xerostomia and extraglandular manifestations. Anemia, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia and lymphoproliferative disorders, including lymphoma are well-known extraglandular, hematological complications of SS. We report here a rare case of patient with primary SS who developed pancytopenia with severe thrombocytopenia as an initial manifestation and successfully treated with IV immunoglobulin (IVIG). The present case suggests that pancytopenia with severe thrombocytopenia can be a difficult-to-treat abnormality, and initial manifestation of primary SS and IVIG might be an effective treatment for severe thrombocytopenia refractory to high-dose steroid in primary SS.