What is it?
Sjögren’s syndrome is an
autoimmune disorder in which the body’s immune system mistakenly reacts to the tissue in glands that produce moisture such as tear and salivary glands. It is a chronic, inflammatory disease that often progresses to a more complex, systemic disorder (generally affecting other organs in the body such as joints, kidneys, and intestinal tract). It is characterized by unusual infiltration of these glands that are responsible for fluid production by
lymphocytes, thus causing decreased saliva (dry mouth), decreased tear production (dry eyes), and drying of other mucous membranes. Other features of this syndrome include swollen salivary glands, feeling of sand or grit in the eyes, difficulty swallowing, joint pain, and decreased sense of taste. Sjögren’s syndrome can affect anyone at any age, but about 90% of those affected are women, the majority of whom are older than 40. According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), between 1 and 4 million people in the United States have Sjögren’s syndrome.
The symptoms of this disorder can vary from person to person, change over time, may include non-specific symptoms such as chronic fatigue and fever, and may involve other body organs such as the kidneys and the gastrointestinal tract. Because of this, recognizing and diagnosing Sjögren’s syndrome can sometimes be challenging.
The Sjögren’s Syndrome Foundation says that the average time to diagnose a symptomatic patient can be more than six years. It may present as the Primary Sjögren’s Syndrome or as Secondary Sjögren’s Syndrome, a condition that coexists with other autoimmune disorders, such as Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, polymyositis, scleroderma, or rheumatoid arthritis. It has also been associated with an increased incidence of lymphoma.
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