In this Article

• What is Sjogren's syndrome?
• What causes Sjogren's syndrome?
• What are symptoms of Sjogren's syndrome?
• How is Sjogren's syndrome diagnosed?
• How is Sjogren's syndrome treated?
• Conclusion
• Sjogren's Syndrome At A Glance
• Patient Discussions: Sjogren's Syndrome - Describe Your Experience
• Sjogren's Syndrome Glossary
• Sjogren's Syndrome Index

Conclusion

Sjogren's syndrome is an area of active immunology research. Many new treatments will be available in the near future.

Sjogren's syndrome is named after a Swedish ophthalmologist, Henrik Sjogren. In the early 1900s, Sjogren called the syndrome "keratoconjunctivitis sicca." The name sicca syndrome is technically now used only to describe the combination of dryness of the mouth and eyes, regardless of cause. The term "sicca" refers to the dryness of the eyes (and mouth).

Sjogren's Syndrome At A Glance

• Sjogren's syndrome is an autoimmune disease.
• Sjogren's syndrome involves inflammation of glands and other tissues of the body.
• About 90% of Sjogren's syndrome patients are female.
• Sjogren's syndrome can be complicated by infections of the eyes, breathing passages, and mouth.
• Sjogren's syndrome is typically associated with antibodies against a variety of body tissues (autoantibodies).
• Diagnosis of Sjogren's syndrome can be aided by a saliva-gland biopsy.
• Treatment of patients with Sjogren's syndrome is directed toward the particular areas of the body that are involved and complications, such as infection.

References:

Clinical Primer of Rheumatology, Lippincott Williams & Wilkens, edited by William Koopman, et al., 2003.

Kelley's Textbook of Rheumatology, W B Saunders Co, edited by Shaun Ruddy, et al., 2000.

Sjogren's Syndrome - Describe Your Experience

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