Sjogren's Syndrome
About the disease & condition
Known Symptoms
- Glandular manifestations: Dry eyes (gritty sensation, burning, photophobia).
Dry mouth (difficulty swallowing, dental caries, oral candidiasis). Parotid gland enlargement. Extraglandular - Systemic involvement: Fatigue, arthralgia/arthritis.
Skin (dryness, vasculitis), lung (interstitial lung disease), renal (tubular acidosis). Neurological (peripheral neuropathy), hematological (cytopenias). - Red flags: Lymphoma risk (especially mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue [MALT] lymphoma). Systemic symptoms like unexplained fever or weight loss.
Known Causes
- Etiology: Genetic predisposition (e.g., HLA-DR3, HLA-DQ2, IRF5, STAT4).
Environmental triggers (e.g., viral infections like Epstein-Barr virus). - Pathophysiology: Autoantibodies (anti-Ro/SSA, anti-La/SSB) target glandular tissues. Lymphocytic infiltration causes gland dysfunction, reduced tear and saliva production, and systemic inflammation.
Care
- Prevention: No known prevention; early diagnosis to mitigate complications.
Avoid medications that exacerbate dryness (e.g., antihistamines). - Follow-up: Regular monitoring for systemic symptoms and lymphoma. Multidisciplinary care (rheumatology, ophthalmology, dentistry).
Patient education on self-management and symptom recognition.
Note: Sjögren’s syndrome is often underdiagnosed due to nonspecific symptoms. A high index of suspicion is needed, especially in women with dry symptoms and systemic features. Treatment focuses on improving quality of life and preventing organ damage.
Relevant Specialties
Rheumatology
The Rheumatology & Clinical Immunology team at our diagnoses and treats disorders that arise when the immune system mistakenly attacks the body. These conditions can affect joints, muscles, skin and internal organs. Our specialists diagnose and combine clinical assessment with imaging, blood tests for autoantibodies and, where needed, tissue sampling, so treatment is based on clear evidence. Procdures are multidisciplinary: rheumatologists and clinical immunologists work closely with physiotherapists, pain specialists, surgeons, obstetricians and paediatric teams to create personalised plans for each patient. Treatment options range from conventional and biologic disease-modifying drugs to joint aspiration and targeted injections, alongside physiotherapy, bone-health management and supervised daycare infusions when required.
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