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Sjögren’s Syndrome

What type of Sjögren’s syndrome do you have?#

Sjögren’s syndrome, or sicca syndrome, is a chronic, autoimmune, rheumatic disorder primarily affecting the exocrine glands – lacrimal and salivary glands – leading to dry eyes and dry mouth.

There are two types of Sjögren’s syndrome:

  1. Primary Sjögren’s syndrome (PSS)
  2. Secondary Sjögren’s syndrome. This disorder may develop 10 years after the onset of an associate autoimmune, rheumatic disorder, such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), or scleroderma.

Classification criteria for Sjögren’s syndrome have been established.

Do you have any systemic manifestations associated your Sjögren’s syndrome?#

There is a wide spectrum of organ specific and systemic complications associated with Sjögren’s syndrome, such as fatigue, myalgia, arthralgia (mild, non-erosive, non-deforming), irritable bowel syndrome, dysphagia, sensory polyneuropathy, nephritis, interstitial lung involvement, liver involvement, hypothyroidism, or B-cell lymphoma of the mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) type.

Hematologic abnormalities may include anemia, neutropenia and thrombocytopenia. These abnormalities are seldom clinically significant.

How is your Sjögren’s syndrome being treated?#

Treatment for Sjögren’s syndrome is mostly palliative, but more specific treatment is indicated when underlying systemic manifestations are present.

Stimulants for residual lacrimal secretion, such as muscarinic agonists (pilocarpine, civimeline) and novel secretagogues, as well as immunomodulatory drugs (cyclosporine A, tacromilus, pimecrolimus), and topical glucocorticosteroids may be used. Anti-inflammatory and disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs are commonly used when more severe non-exocrine manifestations are present.

Related Pages#

References/Websites#