Sjogren's Syndrome

On this page

Basics

• Summary
• Start Here
• Diagnosis and Tests
• Treatments and Therapies

Learn More

• Living With
• Related Issues
• Specifics
• Genetics

See, Play and Learn

• Videos and Tutorials

Research

• Statistics and Research
• Clinical Trials

Resources

• Find an Expert

For You

• Patient Handouts

Summary

Sjogren's syndrome is an autoimmune disease. This means that your immune system attacks parts of your own body by mistake. In Sjogren's syndrome, it attacks the glands that make tears and saliva. 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. Sjogren's can also affect other parts of the body, including your joints, lungs, kidneys, blood vessels, digestive organs, and nerves.

Most people with Sjogren's syndrome are women. It usually starts after age 40. It is sometimes linked to other diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus.

To make a diagnosis, doctors may use a medical history, physical exam, certain eye and mouth tests, blood tests, and biopsies.

Treatment focuses on relieving symptoms. It can differ for each person; it depends on what parts of the body are affected. It may include artificial tears for dye eyes and sucking on sugar-free candy or drinking water often for a dry mouth. Medicines may help with severe symptoms.

NIH: National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases

Start Here

• Dry Eyes and Mouth? You May Have Sjögren's Syndrome (National Institutes of Health)
• Sjogren's Syndrome (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
• Sjogren's Syndrome (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) Also in Spanish
• Sjögren's Syndrome (American College of Rheumatology)
• What Is Sjögren's Syndrome? (National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases)

Diagnosis and Tests

• ANA (Antinuclear Antibody) Test (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish
• Rheumatoid Factor (RF) Test (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish

Treatments and Therapies

• Simple Solutions for Dry Eye (Sjogren's Syndrome Foundation) - PDF

Living With

• Fatigue Fighters in Sjogren's Syndrome (Sjogren's Syndrome Foundation) - PDF
• Sleep Tips for Sjogren's Patients (Sjogren's Syndrome Foundation) - PDF
• Tips for Chronic Pain (Sjogren's Syndrome Foundation) - PDF

Related Issues

• Sjogren's Syndrome: Can It Cause Recurrent UTIs? (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
• Sun and Sjogren's Syndrome (Sjogren's Syndrome Foundation) - PDF
• Surgery, Hospitals, and Medications (Sjogren's Syndrome Foundation) - PDF
• Tips for Airline Travelers with Sjogren's Syndrome (Sjogren's Syndrome Foundation) - PDF
• What You Need to Know about Sjogren's Syndrome (Lupus Foundation of America)

Specifics

• Dry Eye (National Eye Institute)
• Dry Mouth (Xerostomia) (National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research) Also in Spanish
• Dry Mouth: MedlinePlus Health Topic (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish
• Dry Skin (Sjogren's Syndrome Foundation) - PDF
• What Is Dry Eye? (American Academy of Ophthalmology) Also in Spanish

Genetics

• Sjögren syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)

Videos and Tutorials

• Sjogren's Syndrome: A Place to Begin (Sjogren's Syndrome Foundation)

Statistics and Research

• New Genetic Susceptibility Factors for Sjögren's Syndrome Revealed (National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases)

Clinical Trials

• ClinicalTrials.gov: Sjogren's Syndrome (National Institutes of Health)

Find an Expert

• Find a Rheumatologist (American College of Rheumatology)
• National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Also in Spanish
• National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research Also in Spanish
• National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke Also in Spanish
• Sjogren's Syndrome Foundation

Patient Handouts

• Rheumatoid factor (RF) (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Sjogren syndrome (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish