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Sjogren's syndrome
Sjogrenssyndromeisarelativelycommonautoimmunediseasethatmainlyaffectstheeyesand salivaryglands,butcanalsoaffectthesweatglands.Immunesystemcells,calledlymphocytes, andautoantibodiesattackthebodysmoisture-producingglands.Thiscauseschronicinflammation (pain,heatandswelling),whichcaneventuallydestroythetissues. Thedisordermayprogressslowly,sothetypicalsymptomsofdryeyesandmouthmaytakeyears toshow.However,rapidonsetcanalsooccur.Symptomscanbemild,moderateorsevereandthe progressionisoftenunpredictable.Otherpartsofthebodymayalsobeaffected. Around0.05percentofthepopulationisthoughttohaveSjogrenssyndrome.Womenwiththe disorderoutnumbermententoone.Thereisnocure,butthedisordercanbemanaged.Sjogrens syndromeisnotusuallylife-threatening.However,inrarecases,organssuchastheliverand kidneysmaybeinvolved,whichcanincreasetheseverityofthecondition.Thechanceof developinglymphoma(cancerofthelymphglands)isalsosignificantlyhigherinpeoplewith Sjogrenssyndrome. Symptoms ThemorecommonsymptomsofSjogrenssyndromecaninclude: Insufficienttearproduction Dry,reddenedanditchyeyes Lightsensitivity Drymouth Soreandcrackedtongue,lipsandgums Dentaldecay Swallowingdifficulties Athirstforwaterwhiletalking Swollenandtenderareasaroundtheearsandbelowthejaw Strangetasteandsmellsensations Fatigue Swellingandpaininthejoints.

Ima ge des crip

The cause is unknown Nooneknowswhatpromptstheimmunesystemtoattackthetearandsalivaryglands.Around halfthepeoplewhohaveSjogrenssyndromealsohaverheumatologicalconditions(suchas scleroderma,lupusandrheumatoidarthritis).ThisisknownassecondarySjogrenssyndrome.In theremainingcases,theautoimmuneresponseoccursinisolation.Thisisknownasprimary Sjogrenssyndrome.Itisbelievedtohaveageneticbasisandtobetriggeredbyanenvironmental factorpossiblyavirus. Other areas can be affected AllinstancesofSjogrenssyndromearesystemic,whichmeanstheyaffecttheentirebody. Sjogrenssyndromecanbemild,moderateorsevere.Itcanprogressunpredictablyandsome individualsexperiencearemissionofsymptoms. Commoncomplicationsincludedentaldecay,skinrashesandanincreasedsusceptibilitytothrush infectionsofthemouth.Insomepeople,thedisorderaffectsotherareasofthebody..Themucus membranesofthenoseandvaginacandryoutandinternalorgans(includingkidneys,intestines, lungs,heartandliver)maybecomeinflamed.Thestructuresofthecirculatoryandnervous systemscanalsobeaffected. Diagnosis

Sjogren'ssyndrome

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Earlydiagnosisandtreatmentareimportantforpreventingcomplications.DiagnosisofSjogrens syndromecanbedifficult,sincethesymptomscanimitatethoseofotherdiseasessuchaslupus, fibromyalgia,multiplesclerosisandsenileglandularatrophy.Drymouthandeyescanalsobethe sideeffectsofmedicationsforotherproblems,suchasdepressionandhighbloodpressure. DiagnosingSjogrenssyndromeinvolvesanumberoftests,whichmayinclude: Schirmers testspecialblottingpaperheldtotheeyeisusedtoassessthedegreeof tearproduction. Eye examinationincludingtheuseofspecialdyes. Biopsyasmalltagofsalivaryglandtissueisremoved(usuallyfromthelip)and examinedinalaboratory. Salivary gland teststocheckthedegreeofsalivaproduced. Blood testsaseriesofbloodtestsmaybeperformedtocheckthelevelsofparticular immunesystemcellsandimmunoglobulinsandforautoantibodiesintheblood.

Treatment ThereisnocureforSjogrenssyndrome,butthedisordercanbemanaged.Treatmentoptions include: Artificialtearsandlubricatingointmentsfortheeyes Artificialsaliva Mouthrinsesandlozenges Nasalsprays Vaginallubricantlotions Moisturisinglotionfortheskin Non-steroidalanti-inflammatorydrugs(NSAIDs) Corticosteroidmedications Immunosuppressivemedications.

Managing the symptoms OthersuggestionstomanagethesymptomsofSjogrenssyndromeinclude: Avoiddryanddustyenvironments. Avoidairdraftsorwindyweather. Wearprotectiveglasseswhenoutsideinthewindandsun. Exerciseregularly. Drinkwaterregularly. Practicegooddentalhygieneandvisityourdentistoften.

Where to get help Yourdoctor Rheumatologist Supportgroups ArthritisVictoriaTel.(03)0385318000or1800011041

Things to remember

Sjogrenssyndromeisanautoimmunediseasethatmainlyaffectstheeyesandsalivary glands,butcanalsoaffectthesweatglands. Immunesystemcellsattackanddestroythetissueofthetear(lachrymal)andsalivary glands. Thereisnocure,buttheconditioncanbemanagedwithmedicationsandproductssuchas artificialtearsandsaliva.

This page has been produced in consultation with, and approved by:

ArthritisVictoriaincorporatingOsteoporosisVictoria

Sjogren'ssyndrome

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Sjogren'ssyndrome

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