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I was diagnosed with Sjogrens Syndrome in the mid 1990s.  At that time i was not made aware that it was connected to other auto-immune diseases, such as sprue or arthritis.  Since then I have learned a good deal about Sjogren's and and want to pass this information on to others.  Please read on...

What is Sjogren's syndrome?

 

Sjogren's syndrome is an autoimmune disease. Autoimmune diseases are characterized by the abnormal production of extra antibodies in the blood that are directed against various tissues of the body. This particular autoimmune illness features inflammation in certain glands of the body. Inflammation of the glands that produce tears (lacrimal glands) leads to decreased water production for tears and eye dryness. Inflammation of the glands that produce the saliva in the mouth (salivary glands, including the parotid glands) leads to dry mouth and dry lips.

What causes Sjogren's syndrome?

 

While the exact cause of Sjogren's syndrome is not known, there is growing scientific support for genetic (inherited) factors. The illness is sometimes found in other family members. It is also found more commonly in families that have members with other autoimmune illnesses, such as systemic lupus erythematosus, autoimmune thyroid disease, juvenile diabetes, etc. About 90% of patients with Sjogren's syndrome are female.

Medical Author: William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR
Medical Editor: Dennis Lee, MD

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 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.
 

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