Complications of Sjogren's Syndrome
Complications list for Sjogren's Syndrome:
The list of complications that have been mentioned in various sources
for Sjogren's Syndrome includes:
See also the symptoms of Sjogren's Syndrome and Sjogren's Syndrome: Introduction.
Complications and sequelae of Sjogren's Syndrome from the Diseases Database include:
Source: Diseases Database
See also the symptoms of Sjogren's Syndrome and Sjogren's Syndrome: Introduction.
Complications of Sjogren's Syndrome:
Questions and Answers About Sjögren's Syndrome: NIAMS (Excerpt)
The autoimmune response that causes dry eyes and mouth can
cause inflammation throughout the body. People with Sjögren's often have
skin, lung, kidney, and nerve problems, as well as disorders of the
digestive system and connective tissue. Following are examples of
extraglandular problems.
Skin Problems
About half of the people who have Sjögren's have dry skin.
Some experience only itching, but it can be severe. Others develop
cracked, split skin that can easily become infected. Infection is a risk
for people with itchy skin, too, particularly if they scratch
vigorously. The skin may darken in infected areas, but it returns to
normal when the infection clears up and the scratching stops.
To treat dry skin, apply heavy moisturizing creams and
ointments three or four times a day to trap moisture in the skin.
Lotions, which are lighter than creams and ointments, aren't recommended
because they evaporate quickly and can contribute to dry skin. Also,
doctors suggest that you take only a short shower (less than 5 minutes),
use a moisturizing soap, pat your skin almost dry, and then cover it
with a cream or ointment. If you take baths, it's a good idea to soak
for 10 to 15 minutes to give your skin time to absorb moisture. Having a
humidifier in the bedroom can help hydrate your skin, too. If these
steps don't help the itching, your doctor might recommend that you use a
skin cream or ointment containing steroids.
Some patients who have Sjögren's, particularly those who
have lupus, are sensitive to sunlight and can get painful burns from
even a little sun exposure, such as through a window. So, if you're
sensitive to sunlight, you need to wear sunscreen (at least SPF 15)
whenever you go outdoors and try to avoid being in the sun for long
periods of time.
Vaginal Dryness
Vaginal dryness is common in women with Sjögren's
syndrome. Painful intercourse is the most common complaint. A vaginal
moisturizer helps retain moisture, and a vaginal lubricant can make
intercourse more comfortable. Vaginal moisturizers attract liquid to the
dry tissues and are designed for regular use. Vaginal lubricants should
be used only for intercourse--they don't moisturize. Oil-based
lubricants, such as petroleum jelly, trap moisture and can cause sores
and hinder the vagina's natural cleaning process. A water-soluble
lubricant is better.
Regular skin creams and ointments relieve dry skin on the
outer surface of the vagina (the vulva).
Lung Problems
Dry mouth can cause lung problems. For example, aspiration
pneumonia can happen when a person breathes in food instead of
swallowing it (dry mouth can keep you from swallowing food properly),
and the food gets stuck in the lungs. Pneumonia can also develop when
bacteria in the mouth migrate into the lungs and cause infection, or
when bacteria get into the lungs and coughing doesn't remove them. (Some
people with Sjögren's don't produce enough mucus in the lungs to remove
bacteria, and others are too weak to be able to cough.) Pneumonia is
treated with various antibiotics, depending on the person and the type
of infection. It is important to get treatment for pneumonia to prevent
lung abscess (a hole in the lung caused by severe infection).
People with Sjögren's also tend to have lung problems
caused by inflammation, such as bronchitis (affecting the bronchial
tubes), tracheobronchitis (affecting the windpipe and bronchial tubes),
and laryngotracheobronchitis (affecting the voice box, windpipe, and
bronchial tubes). Depending on your condition, the doctor may recommend
using a humidifier, taking medicines to open the bronchial tubes, or
taking corticosteroids to relieve inflammation. Pleurisy is inflammation
of the lining of the lungs and is treated with corticosteroids and
nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs.
|
Protect Your Voice
People with Sjögren's can develop hoarseness if
their vocal cords become inflamed as part of the disease or become
irritated from throat dryness or coughing. To prevent further
strain on your vocal cords, try not to clear your throat before
speaking. Instead, take a sip of water, chew gum, or suck on
candy. Or else make an "h" sound, hum, or laugh to gently bring
the vocal cords together so you can get sound out. Clearing your
throat does the same thing, but it's hard on the vocal cords, and
you want to avoid irritating them further. |
Kidney Problems
The kidneys filter waste products from the blood and
remove them from the body through urine. The most common kidney problem
in people with Sjögren's is interstitial nephritis, or inflammation of
the tissue around the kidney's filters, which can occur even before dry
eyes and dry mouth. Inflammation of the filters themselves, called
glomerulonephritis, is less common. Some people develop renal tubular
acidosis, which means they can't get rid of certain acids through urine.
The amount of potassium in their blood drops, causing an imbalance in
blood chemicals that can affect the heart, muscles, and nerves.
Often, doctors do not treat these problems unless they
start to affect kidney function or cause other health problems. However,
they keep a close eye on the problem through regular exams, and will
prescribe medicines called alkaline agents to balance blood chemicals
when necessary. Corticosteroids or immunosuppressants are used to treat
more severe cases.
Nerve Problems
People with Sjögren's syndrome can have nerve problems.
When they do, the problem usually involves the peripheral nervous system
(PNS), which contains the nerves that control sensation and movement.
Involvement of the PNS is increasingly being recognized. Carpal tunnel
syndrome, peripheral neuropathy, and cranial neuropathy are examples of
peripheral nervous system disorders that occur in people with Sjögren's.
In carpal tunnel syndrome, inflamed tissue in the forearm presses
against the median nerve, causing pain, numbness, tingling, and
sometimes muscle weakness in the thumb and index and middle fingers. In
peripheral neuropathy, an immune attack damages nerves in the legs or
arms, causing the same symptoms there. (Sometimes nerves are damaged
because inflamed blood vessels cut off their blood supply.) In cranial
neuropathy, nerve damage causes face pain; loss of feeling in the face,
tongue, eyes, ears, or throat; and loss of taste and smell.
Nerve problems are treated with medicines to control pain
and, if necessary, with steroids or other drugs to control inflammation.
Digestive Problems
Inflammation in the esophagus, stomach, pancreas, and
liver can cause problems like painful swallowing, heartburn, abdominal
pain and swelling, loss of appetite, diarrhea, and weight loss. It can
also cause hepatitis (inflammation of the liver) and cirrhosis
(hardening of the liver). Sjögren's is closely linked to a liver disease
called primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC), which causes itching, fatigue,
and, eventually, cirrhosis. Many patients with PBC have Sjögren's.
Treatment varies, depending on the problem, but may
include pain medicine, anti-inflammatory drugs, steroids, and
immunosuppressants.
(Source: excerpt from Questions and Answers About Sjögren's Syndrome: NIAMS)
Questions and Answers About Sjögren's Syndrome: NIAMS (Excerpt)
About 5 percent of people with Sjögren's develop cancer of
the lymph nodes, or lymphoma. The most common symptom of lymphoma is a
painless swelling of the lymph nodes in the neck, underarm, or groin. In
Sjögren's syndrome, when lymphoma develops it often involves the
salivary glands. Persistent enlargement of the salivary glands should be
investigated further. Other symptoms may include the following:
These symptoms are not sure signs of lymphoma. They may be
caused by other, less serious conditions, such as the flu or an
infection. If you have these symptoms, see a doctor so that any illness
can be diagnosed and treated as early as possible.
If you're worried that you might develop lymphoma, talk to
your doctor to learn more about the disease, symptoms to watch for, any
special medical care you might need, and what you can do to relieve your
worry.
(Source: excerpt from Questions and Answers About Sjögren's Syndrome: NIAMS)
Sjogren's Syndrome Symptoms: Book Excerpts
You may also want to research other symptoms
in our Symptoms Center.
About complications:
Complications of Sjogren's Syndrome are secondary conditions, symptoms, or other disorders that are
caused by Sjogren's Syndrome.
In many cases the distinction between symptoms of Sjogren's Syndrome and complications
of Sjogren's Syndrome is unclear
or arbitrary.
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