Sjögren's syndrome is a chronic autoimmune disease. It affects
glands that make moisture and often causes dry mouth and eyes. It can
also lead to dryness in other areas such as nose, throat and skin. It is
usually accompanied by autoimmune disorders such as lupus and
rheumatoid arthritis.
CAUSES
Sjögren's
syndrome is an autoimmune disease which means your immune system
mistakenly attacks parts of your body. In this condition, your immune
system attacks glands that make tear and saliva.This damages the glands
and causes dry mouth and eyes. The exact cause of Sjögren's syndrome is
unknown even though doctors believe it may be triggered by a combination
of gene or environmental factors such as viral and bacterial
infections.
This syndrome may also affect parts of the body such as
- thyroid
- kidney
- liver
- lungs
- nerves
- joints
- skin
RISK FACTORS
Anyone can develop Sjögren's syndrome but some people are at high risk of getting it and these people include the following
- women
- people aged 40 years and above
- people with rheumatoid diseases such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis
SYMPTOMS
The main symptom of
Sjögren's syndrome are dry eyes and dry mouth. If the disease however
affects other parts of the body such as skin, joints, lungs, kidneys,
blood vessels, digestive organs, and nerves, you may experience other
symptoms such as
- skin rashes
- dry skin
- vaginal dryness
- thyroid problems
- joint and muscle pain
- numbness and tingling in the arms and legs
- chronic dry cough
TEST AND DIAGNOSIS
To diagnose this syndrome, the doctor will do a physical exam and ask for your medical history. He may also the following tests.
Blood test: A number of blood tests will be done to check for certain antibodies that signifies the presence of an autoimmune disease.
Eye test : These include
- shirmer test which is used to measure dryness in your eye
- Rose Bengal test detects scratches on the surface of the eye
Biopsy: A lip biopsy may be done to check for clusters of inflammatory cells.
TREATMENT
Treatment
of this disease may depend on the part of the body affected and may
differ from person to person. Treatment focuses on getting rid of
symptoms. They include
- medications to make more saliva
- medications for joint or muscle pain
- medications to suppress the immune system
- medications to suppress inflammation
Treatment for dry eyes: These include
- medications to reduce inflammation
- eye ointment to protect and keep the eyes wet for several hours
- artificial tears (eye drops) to treat dry eyes
- surgery to shut the tear ducts that drain tears from the eye
- a chemical that wets the surface of the eye and keeps the natural tears from drying out so fast
Treatment for dry mouth: These include
- chewing gum or sucking on hard candy to make more saliva
- taking medication that helps make more saliva
- using oil or petroleum-based lip balm or lipstick to help dry, cracked lips feel better
- sipping on water throughout the day
To prevent cavities, you should brush and floss after
eating meals and snacks. Using a toothpaste with fluoride may help
prevent cavities.By
Jeanne Abayie
