Sjögren's Disease

What is Sjögren's disease?

Sjögren's disease, previously called Sjögren's syndrome, is a chronic (long-lasting) autoimmune disease. When you have an autoimmune disease, your immune system attacks healthy tissues and organs by mistake. In Sjögren's disease, your immune system attacks the glands that make moisture in the eyes, mouth, and other parts of the body. This causes a dry mouth and dry eyes. You may have dryness in other places that need moisture, such as your nose, throat, and skin. Sjögren's disease can also affect other parts of the body, including your joints, lungs, kidneys, blood vessels, digestive organs, and nerves.

What causes Sjögren's disease?

Normally, your immune system protects the body from infection and disease. But with Sjögren's and other autoimmune diseases, your immune system attacks healthy tissues and organs. The cause of Sjögren's disease is unknown. Researchers think that genetic and environmental factors may play a role. Studies have linked Sjögren's disease to changes in several genes. Some researchers also think that the disease may be triggered by something in the environment. For example, they think that one possible trigger could be a previous infection with a virus or bacteria.

Who is more likely to develop Sjögren's disease?

Most people with Sjögren's disease are women. You can get it at any age, but it is most common in adults over age 50. It can affect people of any race or ethnicity.

Some people have Sjögren's disease on its own, while others have it with another autoimmune disease, such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus or certain types of vasculitis. Because they have similar symptoms, having another autoimmune disease can sometimes make it harder to diagnose Sjögren's disease.

What are the symptoms of Sjögren's disease?

Sjögren's disease may have different effects on the body. Not everyone will have the same symptoms. Some people have cycles of mild and then severe symptoms.

The two main symptoms are:

• Dry eyes. Your eyes may burn or itch or feel like they have sand in them. Sometimes your vision may be blurry, or bright lights may bother you.
• Dry mouth. Your tongue and your throat may feel dry. You might have trouble swallowing, speaking, and tasting.

Sjögren's disease can also affect other parts of the body, causing symptoms such as:

• Joint and muscle pain
• Dry skin
• Rashes on the skin of hands or feet
• Numbness or tingling in the hands or feet
• Acid reflux
• Swelling in the glands around the face and neck
• Trouble sleeping or concentrating
• Vaginal dryness
• Dry cough that doesn't go away
• Fatigue that doesn't go away

People with Sjögren's disease have a higher chance of getting lymphoma, but the risk is low.

How is Sjögren's disease diagnosed?

There is no specific test for Sjögren's disease. To find out if you have it, your health care provider:

• Will ask about your medical history and symptoms.
• Will do a physical exam, which includes checking for signs of dry mouth and signs of related autoimmune diseases.
• May order tests, including:
  • Eye tests to see if you produce a normal amount of tears and find out if your eyes have been damaged by dryness.
  • Salivary gland tests to measure how much saliva your mouth produces. They could include imaging tests and a biopsy.
  • Blood tests.

What are the treatments for Sjögren's disease?

Treatment for Sjögren's disease focuses on relieving your symptoms and preventing any complications. The treatments can be different for each person, depending on which parts of the body are affected. They may include:

• Eye drops (artificial tears) or ointments to relieve dryness in the eyes.
• Saliva substitutes.
• Prescription medicines that cause your salivary glands to make more saliva.
• A minor procedure that places small plugs in the tear ducts in the corners of your eyes. The plugs block your tears from draining so they stay in your eyes longer.
• Medicines to help with other symptoms caused by Sjögren's disease, such as medicines for pain, inflammation, and mouth infections.
• Medicines that suppress (weaken) your immune system (for severe cases).

You can also try to relieve some of your symptoms by sucking on sugar-free candy, drinking water often, increasing the humidity in your room, and not smoking. Because having a dry mouth can raise your risk of cavities, it's important to take good care of your teeth and see your dentist regularly.