Sjögren's Syndrome
Sjögren's syndrome is an inflammatory autoimmune disease that can affect various body parts, but primarily affects the tear and saliva glands, causing dry eyes and dry mouth.
People who suffer with dry eyes may be at increased risk for eye infections or damage to the cornea. Patients often complain of eye irritation such as grittiness or a burning sensation. People who have dry mouth may complain of having difficulty swallowing, especially dry foods, and may also have swelling around the face and neck. Dry mouth can increase the risk of dental decay, gingivitis, or oral thrush.
Primary or Secondary Sjögren's Syndrome
The condition is referred to as primary Sjögren's syndrome when there is no other connective-tissue disease associated with it. Sjögren's syndrome may occur commonly in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, and in those cases it is referred to as secondary Sjögren's.
Extraglandular complications can occur, but are considered rare, including: joint pain without the presence of another rheumatic disease; rashes from inflammation of small blood vessels, lung, liver, or kidney inflammation; neurological problems (such as numbness and weakness); and malignancy.
Secondary Sjögren's syndrome develops in people who have another rheumatic disease. Most often, the other rheumatic condition is rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, or scleroderma.
Fact
Sjögren's syndrome is named after a Swedish doctor, Henrik Sjögren. Sjögren was the first to describe symptoms of chronic arthritis along with dry eyes and dry mouth in a group of women in the early 1900s. Ninety percent of people with Sjögren's syndrome are women.
Diagnosing and Treating Sjögren's Syndrome
Physical symptoms, blood tests, and special tests are used to diagnose Sjögren's syndrome. The physical symptoms serve as early indicators. Blood tests, such as the antinuclear antibody test and more specific antibody tests for anti-SSA and anti-SSB, are used to confirm the diagnosis. Special tests include the Schirmer test for tear production, salivary gland biopsy, salivary gland scans, and flow testing.
Sjögren's syndrome treatment focuses on relieving the symptoms of dry eyes and dry mouth and includes saliva stimulators, sprays, gels, and gum. Salagen and Evoxac are prescription medications that stimulate the flow of saliva. Dry eyes can be helped with artificial tears or eye ointments, and Restasis or hydroxypropyl cellulose may be prescribed. Extraglandular complications associated with Sjögren's syndrome may be treated with corticosteroids and DMARDs. For obvious reasons, it is important to consult regularly with a dentist and ophthalmologist as well as your rheumatologist.
Prevalence of Sjögren's Syndrome
Sjögren's syndrome most commonly develops between the ages of 45 and 55, though it can develop at any age. According to the American College of Rheumatology, ten times more women than men have Sjögren's syndrome, and about half of the affected patients have rheumatoid arthritis or another rheumatic disease. Approximately 1 to 2 percent of the population is affected by Sjögren's syndrome (between 1 and 4 million Americans).
