Sjögren's Syndrome

Overview

Sjögren’s syndrome is an autoimmune disorder, meaning your body attacks its own tissues—in this case, moisture-producing glands. Sjögren’s syndrome typically—but not exclusively—occurs in midlife, most often between ages 45 and 55. About nine in 10 people with Sjögren’s syndrome are women.

Types

Physicians classify Sjögren’s syndrome into two equally common types:

• Primary Sjögren’s syndrome, which occurs by itself
• Secondary Sjögren’s syndrome, which occurs with another autoimmune disorder, such as rheumatoid arthritis or lupus

Cause

Scientists do not know what causes Sjögren’s syndrome, but they suspect it emerges from a combination of genetic susceptibility and an environmental trigger, such as a virus.

Symptoms

With Sjögren’s syndrome, dryness of your mouth can lead to tooth decay, changes in your ability to taste food, and trouble talking and swallowing. Dryness of your eyes can cause blurred vision and, over time, damage your cornea. Other common symptoms of Sjögren’s syndrome include:

• Dry sinuses
• Dry skin
• Fatigue
• Joint pain
• Digestive problems

In some, Sjögren’s syndrome can cause inflammation of the liver, kidney or lungs. The disorder also increases your risk of developing lymphoma, although the vast majority of people with Sjögren’s syndrome do not get lymphoma.

Diagnosis

Early diagnosis and treatment of Sjögren’s syndrome can help you avoid dental and other complications. However, symptoms develop gradually and can look like those of numerous other conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and fibromyalgia. As a result, patients often do not receive an accurate diagnosis of this disorder until several years after they begin experiencing problems.

Highly skilled IU Health rheumatologists can identify Sjögren’s syndrome based on a combination of physical examination, medical history and testing, sometimes including gland biopsy, tear-production assessment and bloodwork.

Treatment

Physicians at IU Health also take advantage of their comprehensive referral network to connect you with ophthalmologists and other specialists for management of specific problems. With appropriate management of the condition, you can generally continue with your typical activities and enjoy a normal lifespan.

Your physicians’ partnership with the Indiana University School of Medicine means they have access to the most up-to-date tools for identifying and managing Sjögren’s syndrome. Through this affiliation, they help train the physicians of tomorrow and carry out research to better understand, diagnose and treat rheumatic diseases such as Sjögren’s syndrome.

IU Health physicians offer several types of treatment for Sjögren’s syndrome. Options include:

• Dry eye preparations. You can purchase artificial tears over-the-counter and in prescription form. Other ointments and topical anti-inflammatory agents can also help.
• Punctal occlusion. In this procedure, your physician blocks the tear ducts in order to keep your tears on your eye’s surface.
• Saliva substitutes. Physicians use these agents to reduce oral symptoms of Sjögren’s syndrome by mimicking some of the properties of saliva.
• Dry mouth medications. Physicians can prescribe certain drugs to stimulate the salivary glands.
• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). These medications available in over-the-counter and prescription versions can reduce your joint and muscle pain.
• Corticosteroids. Synthetic hormones such as prednisone may decrease inflammation that poses a risk to your lungs, kidneys, blood vessels or other body systems.
• Immune suppressants. These medications may help to prevent organ damage from Sjögren’s syndrome.