What Is Sjogrens Syndrome?

Sjogren's syndrome is an autoimmune disorder that effects up to four million people in the United States, according to the Sjogren's Syndrome Foundation. An autoimmune disease is a disorder in which the body's own immune system attacks healthy tissue. The immune system of individuals with Sjogren's syndrome destroys the healthy mucous membrane tissues of the nose, mouth and eyes.

Effects

• The main symptoms of Sjogren's syndrome involve the mucous membranes. The syndrome is marked by extremely dry mouth and eyes. This dryness may result in itchy or burning eyes, sensitivity to light, cavities, difficulty swallowing, a diminished sense of taste and yeast infections in mouth. Sufferers often also have dry skin sometimes with rashes, fatigue, parotid gland swelling and joint pain.

Identification

• Because these symptoms overlap with a variety of other ailments, Sjogren's is sometimes difficult to diagnose. Other illnesses or side effects of medications must be ruled out as the source of the symptoms. Blood tests are typically performed to identify if antibodies are present. A tear test for the eyes may be conducted along with specialized X-rays of salivary and parotid glands to check for damage and measure the flow of saliva.

Features

• Sjogren's syndrome impacts women more frequently than men. Those over 40 and individuals with another rheumatic illness such as lupus or rheumatoid arthritis are also more likely to develop the syndrome. Some incidents of Sjogren's syndrome are hereditary and genes have been identified in these incidents. However, not all individuals with the syndrome have the identified gene.

Considerations

• Sjogren's syndrome is classified into two groups, primary Sjogren's syndrome and secondary Sjogren's syndrome. Individuals with primary Sjogren's syndrome have only this syndrome and no other autoimmune or rheumatic illness. Those with secondary Sjogren's syndrome have the syndrome in addition to a connective tissue disease such as lupus, scleroderma, rheumatoid arthritis or polymyositis. Individuals with primary Sjogren's more commonly have other glands or tissues affected such as the lungs, kidneys or liver.

Prevention/Solution

• The cause of Sjogren's syndrome is not known and currently there is no known prevention or cure. The primary treatments involve addressing the symptoms and preventing damage to healthy tissue. Dryness is treated with prescription eye drops, nasal sprays, increasing environmental humidity and occasionally by blocking the tear duct drains with something called a punctual plug. Immunosuppressant medications, steroids, medications to control dry mouth and pain medications may also be prescribed to help alleviate symptoms.