How To Treat Sjogren's Syndrome

Sjogren’s Syndrome (SS), is an autoimmune disease that can co-exist with other types of autoimmune diseases and is especially common in people who suffer autoimmune thyroid diseases and rheumatoid arthritis.

1. Sjogren’s Syndrome (pronounced "show-grins") affects the fluid producing ducts and glands of the body, as well as mucous membranes in the body. When a person has SS, the immune system has sent out killer cells, called antibodies, to attack these mechanisms of the body that produce lubricating fluids and membranes. This results in these fluids and membranes becoming dry, so that the parts of the body that contain them may also become inflamed. The areas of the body that can be affected by SS include the tear ducts in the eyes, the saliva ducts under the tongue, the sinuses, the skin and the digestive system. In women, the vagina is also commonly affected. Some patients are affected in only one or two areas of the body, such as the mouth or eyes, but the disease can also be systemic (body-wide).
2. Symptoms of Sjogren’s Syndrome. In addition to patients experiencing dryness in the parts of the body listed above, SS can also result in fatigue, joint pain, digestive problems, skin rashes, muscle weakness, dental cavities and neuropathies (nervous system symptoms). In fact, SS can affect any organ in the body if it is chronic and severe, including the blood vessels. People with SS also tend to develop lung infections more easily. Cold and flu viruses will often result in bronchitis.
3. Diagnosing Sjogren’s Syndrome. In addition to the symptoms that lead a doctor to suspect Sjogren’s Syndrome, there are also blood tests that diagnose SS and other medical tests that help to diagnose it. These blood tests include ones to detect antibodies that cause the autoimmune disease, referred to as the “SSA and SSB” antibodies. Doctors will also order a test for systemic autoimmune antibodies, referred to as the Antinuclear Antibodies or the “ANA”. A test for inflammation may also be ordered. It’s called the “ESR”, and it detects inflammatory reactions that might be present in the body. Some patients who have SS in more localized areas of the body may test negative, yet still have the disease. For patients suspected of having SS affecting the mouth, some doctors will have a biopsy performed on saliva gland tissue. A special type of absorbent paper may also be used to test patients whose eyes specifically are affected. The paper is placed on the tear ducts of the eyes and the amount of tear fluid can be observed to see if inadequate
   amounts are being produced.
4. Treatment for Sjogren’s Syndrome. There is no specific treatment for this autoimmune disease and so the treatment is to reduce the effects of the bodily symptoms it causes. For patients who experience dry eyes, doctors may prescribe synthetic tear solutions or pharmaceutical grade eye drops to help keep the eyes lubricated. The same is true of patients with dry sinuses; nose drops may be prescribed to help moisturize the dry tissues in the nose and sinus passages. Patients with joint pain may be prescribed medications to treat arthritic and rheumatic symptoms. For those patients with chronic and severe inflammation, a corticosteroid may be prescribed to reduce the inflammation, such as the commonly prescribed anti-inflammatory called Prednisone.

Patients who are experiencing these symptoms should consult with their physician, to see if he or she recommends testing for Sjogren’s Syndrome. This is especially true in patients who are already experiencing other autoimmune
diseases.