Sjogrens Syndrome
What Is Sjogren's Syndrome?
Sjogren's (SHOW-griens) syndrome is a disease that affects the
glands that make moisture. It most often causes dryness in the mouth
and eyes. It can also lead to dryness in other places that need
moisture, such as the nose, throat, and skin.
Who Gets Sjogren's Syndrome?
Most people with Sjogren's syndrome are women. It can occur at
any age and in any race. But it is rare in children and most often
shows up after age 40.
What Causes Sjogren's Syndrome?
Sjogren's syndrome is an autoimmune disease. The immune system
is supposed to fight disease by killing off harmful viruses and
bacteria. But with autoimmune diseases, your immune system attacks
parts of your own body by mistake.
In Sjogren's syndrome, your immune system attacks the glands
that make tears and saliva (spit). The damage keeps these glands from
working right and causes dry eyes and dry mouth.
Doctors don't know the exact cause of Sjogren's syndrome. They
think it may be caused by a combination of two things:
- Genes
- Exposure to something like a virus or bacteria.
What Are the Symptoms of Sjogren's Syndrome?
The main symptoms are:
Sjogren's syndrome also can affect other parts of the body,
including the skin, joints, lungs, kidneys, blood vessels, digestive
organs, and nerves. Symptoms can include:
- Dry skin
- Skin rashes
- Chronic dry cough
- Thyroid problems
- Joint and muscle pain
- Vaginal dryness
- Numbness and tingling in the arms and legs.
Sjogren's can also make you very tired.
How Is Sjogren's Syndrome Diagnosed?
Doctors use a few ways to diagnose Sjogren's:
- Medical history
- Physical exam
- Certain eye and mouth tests
- Blood tests.
Doctors may also use:
- A urine test
- A chest x ray.
How Is Sjogren's Syndrome Treated?
Treatment differs for each person. It depends on what parts of
the body are affected. Treatment will focus on getting rid of symptoms.
Treatment may include:
- Medicines for joint or muscle pain (such as aspirin and
ibuprofen).
- Medicines that help you make more saliva.
- Medicines that suppress inflammation (such as
corticosteroids).
- Medicines that suppress the immune system.
Treatment for dry eyes may include:
- Artificial tears that come in different thicknesses. You
may have to try a few to find the right one.
- Eye ointments. These are thicker than artificial tears.
They protect the eyes and keep them wet for several hours. They can
blur your vision, so you may want to use them while you sleep.
- Medicines to reduce inflammation in the eye.
- A chemical that wets the surface of the eye and keeps the
natural tears from drying out so fast. It comes in a small pellet that
you put in your lower eyelid. When you add eye drops, the pellet melts.
This forms a film over your own tears and traps the moisture.
- Surgery to shut the tear ducts that drain tears from the
eye.
Treatment for dry mouth may include:
- Chewing gum or sucking on hard candy helps your glands make
more saliva. However, gum and candy must
be sugar-free.
- Sipping water or a sugar-free drink often to wet your mouth.
- Using oil or petroleum-based lip balm or lipstick to help
dry, cracked lips feel better.
- Using a saliva substitute prescribed by a doctor to make
the mouth feel wet.
- Using medicine to help your mouth make more saliva.
People with dry mouth can easily get mouth infections. Tell
your doctor if you have white patches or red, burning areas in your
mouth.
Medicines and Dryness
Some medicines can cause eye and mouth dryness. If you are
taking one of the drugs listed below, ask your doctor whether you
should stop.
Drugs that can cause dryness include:
- Those used for allergies and colds (antihistamines and
decongestants).
- Those used to lower fluids (diuretics).
- Some used to treat diarrhea.
- Some used to treat blood pressure.
- Some antipsychotic medicines.
- Tranquilizers.
- Antidepressants.
What Research Is Being Done on Sjogren's Syndrome?
Studies are being done on:
- Genes and gene therapy.
- Bacteria and viruses.
- The immune system.
- Hormones.
- Predicting who may have lung problems.
- Treating other skin problems.
- Medicines that help the glands make moisture.
- Medicines to help the immune system and reduce swelling.
-NIH