Sjogren's Syndrome

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.