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Diseases » Sjogren's Syndrome » Glossary

Glossary for Sjogren's Syndrome

Abdominal Pain: A condition which is characterized by the sensation of pain that is located in the abdomen
Abdominal swelling: Swelling or bloating of the abdomen
Allergic conjunctivitis: Allergic conjunctivitis is an allergic reaction which causes inflammation of the conjunctiva of the eye (thin clear lining covering the eye).
Arthritis: General name for any type of joint inflammation, but often means age-related osteoarthritis.
Autoimmune diseases: A group of disorders in which the primary cause is the an inflammatory reaction caused by the body's own immune system attacking tissues
Autoimmune thyroid diseases: Autoimmune diseases of the thyroid gland.
Biliary cirrhosis: Biliary cirrhosis is a condition where the bile ducts are unable to transport bile effectively due to blockage, inflammation, scarring or some other damage to the bile ducts. The condition may result from such things as congenital defect of the bile ducts (e.g. biliary atresia), cystic fibrosis, gallstones or a variety of other secondary conditions. The cause of primary biliary cirrhosis is not fully understood.
Blepharitis: A common eyelid inflammation
Blood vessel inflammation: A condition characterized by inflammation of the vessels that transport blood around the body
Blood vessel symptoms: Symptoms affecting the blood vessels
Blurred vision: Blurriness of vision or images.
Brain symptoms: Symptoms affecting the brain
Bronchitis: Bronchitis is an inflammation of the air passages within the lungs. It occurs when the trachea and the large and small bronchi within the lungs become inflamed
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: Hand or wrist problems; often from repetitive motion.
Chat room addiction: Chat room addiction refers to the excessive amounts of time spent on computer chat rooms. When the person attempts to reduce the amount of time spent on the activity they suffer withdrawal symptoms such as irritability and anxiety. The preoccupation can cause problems with relationships and even with work performance.
Cholecystitis: Inflammation of the gallbladder which concentrates and stores bile. The condition may occur suddenly (acute) or persist over a longer period of time (chronic).
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Severe chronic fatigue disorder often following infection.
Cirrhosis of the liver: Scarring of the liver from alcohol or other causes.
Computer addiction: Computer addiction refers to the excessive amounts of time spent on the computer. The preoccupation can cause problems with relationships and even with work performance. The time spent on the computer does not refer to work-related activities.
Conjunctivitis: Contagious eye infection
Connective tissue disorders: Any condition affecting connective tissues.
Corneal inflammation: Inflammation of the cornea.
Dental caries: A destructive process causing decalcification of the tooth enamel leading to cavitation of the tooth
Dermatomyositis: A muscle disease characterized by chronic muscle inflammation resulting in progressive muscle weakness and a characteristic rash.
Diarrhea: Loose or watery stool.
Digestive symptoms: Any symptoms affecting the digestive tract.
Dry Eye: Dry eyes or gritty eye feeling.
Dry mouth: A condition characterized by the sensation of a dry mouth
Dyspareunia: Vaginal pain after sexual intercourse
Eating symptoms: Symptoms related to eating.
Ectodermal dysplasia: A group of rare inherited conditions which affect the ectodermal skin layer which includes the skin, hair, teeth and nails.
Eye conditions: Any condition that affects the eyes
Eye muscle strain: An eye disorder caused by strain on the eye muscles. The eyes become tired when being used intensely such as occurs when working on the computer, driving or reading, long periods of time straining to see in dim light or extremely bright lights. Eye refraction problems can also cause eye strain.
Eye symptoms: Symptoms affecting the eye
Fatigue: Excessive tiredness or weakness.
Fibromyalgia: A difficult to diagnose condition affecting the muscles and/or joints
Gaming addiction: Gaming addiction refers to the excessive amounts of time spent on online computer games. When the person attempts to reduce the amount of time spent on the activity they suffer withdrawal symptoms such as irritability and anxiety. The preoccupation can cause problems with relationships and even with work performance.
Glomerulonephritis: Kidney disease where the kidney's have problems removing waste material and excessive fluid.
Graves Disease: is an autoimmune disease characterized by hyperthyroidism due to circulating autoantibodies. Thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulins (TSIs) bind to and activate thyrotropin receptors, causing the thyroid gland to grow and the thyroid follicles to increase synthesis of thyroid hormone.
Hashimoto's Thyroiditis: Hashimoto thyroiditis is characterized by the destruction of thyroid cells by various cell- and antibody-mediated immune processes. Patients with Hashimoto thyroiditis have antibodies to various thyroid antigens, the most frequently detected of which include antithyroid peroxidase (anti-TPO), antithyroglobulin (anti-Tg), and, to a lesser extent, TSH receptor-blocking antibodies.
Head symptoms: Symptoms affecting the head or brain
Heartburn: Pain from stomach acid coming back up the esophagus
Hepatitis: Any type of liver inflammation or infection.
Herpes zoster oticus: Facial and auditory effects of herpes zoster
Hoarseness: Reduction or loss of voice
Homologous wasting disease: A term used to describe the disease state resulting from a graft versus host reaction. Graft versus host reaction occurs when the immune system of a transplant patient attacks the transplanted tissue but in homologous wasting disease the immune cells in the transplanted tissue actually attacks the host tissues. The condition occurs most often after a bone marrow transplant.
Hypokalemia: Low levels of potassium in the body.
Impaired vision: Reduced or degraded vision.
Interstitial nephritis: A condition which is characterized by disease of the renal interstitial tissue
Jaw swelling: Swelling of the jaw
Joint pain: Pain affecting the joints
Keratitis: Any inflammation of the cornea of the eye
Keratomalacia: A rare eye disease that results from a deficiency of vitamin A.
Kidney symptoms: Symptoms affecting one or both kidneys.
Laryngotracheobronchitis: An acute condition which is characterized by a respiratory infection that affects the larynx, trachea, and bronchus.
Linear IgA dermatosis: A rare autoimmune skin condition characterized by blistered skin. The condition may occur after using certain drugs, following infection or there may be no apparent cause. It tends to occur in the non-reproductive years and most often affects the limbs, face or genital regions but may occur anywhere. The blisters may occur separately, in clusters or various other formations.
Liver symptoms: Symptoms affecting the liver
Lung abscess: Pus (abscess) in the lung
Lung symptoms: Symptoms affecting one or both lungs.
Lupus: Autoimmune disease with numerous effects on various organs and linings.
Lymphoma: Cancer involving lymph nodes and the immune system.
Marijuana abuse: Illicit depressant/hallucinogenic drug
Mickulicz disease: A rare condition involving enlargement of the salivary and tear-producing glands which results from any of a number of diseases such as leukemia, syphilis and tuberculosis. If the enlargement occurs on its own and not as a result of another condition, it is called Mickulicz disease.
Mixed connective tissue disease: A rare disorder of the connective tissue which affects a range of body tissues and organs.
Mouth infections: Infection of the mouth
Mouth swelling: The occurrence of swelling that is located in the mouth
Mouth symptoms: Symptoms of the mouth or oral area.
Mumps: An acute viral disease that causes the salivary glands to become swollen, sore and inflamed. Immunization had greatly reduced the incidence of this disease.
Myositis: One of the underlying causes for muscle weakness/myopathy.
Nephritis: Any type of kidney inflammation
Nerve symptoms: Symptoms affecting the nerves
Night blindness: Poor vision in darkness or dim light
Oral thrush: Candida fungal infection of the mouth.
Pancreas symptoms: Symptoms affecting the pancreas gland
Pancreatitis: Inflammation of the pancreas causing digestive complaints.
Parotid gland enlargement:
Peripheral neuropathy: Peripheral neuropathy is the term for damage to nerves of the peripheral nervous system, which may be caused either by diseases of the nerve or from the side-effects of systemic illness.
Pleurisy: Inflammation of the pleural membrane
Pneumonia: Infection of the lung by bacteria, viruses or fungus.
Polyuria: Excessive urination during pregnancy.
Poor appetite: Loss or reduction in appetite for food
Primary biliary cirrhosis: Primary biliary cirrhosis is a chronic and progressive cholestatic disease of the liver.
Proximal Renal Tubular Acidosis: This is a condition that is characterised by a metabolic acidosis state caused by impairment of a persons renal function
Raynaud's phenomenon: Blood vessel constriction attacks affecting fingers and/or toes.
Renal Tubular Acidosis: A rare disorder where the kidneys secrete too much hydrogen and don't reabsorb enough bicarbonate which can result in symptoms such as excessive blood acidity and loss of potassium.
Rheumatic conditions: Any condition that affects ones joints
Rheumatoid arthritis: Autoimmune form of arthritis usually in teens or young adults.
Sarcoidosis: Rare autoimmune disease usually affecting the lungs.
Scleroderma: A rare, progressive connective tissue disorder involving thickening and hardening of the skin and connective tissue. There are a number of forms of scleroderma with some forms being systemic (involving internal organs).
Secondary Biliary Cirrhosis: Secondary biliary cirrhosis is a condition where the bile ducts are unable to transport bile effectively due to a secondary cause which results in blockage, inflammation, scarring or some other damage to the bile ducts. The condition may result from such things as congenital defect of the bile ducts (e.g. biliary atresia), cystic fibrosis, gallstones or a variety of other secondary conditions.
Sjogren's Syndrome: Autoimmune disease damaging the eye tear ducts and other glands.
Sjogren's syndrome, juvenile, secondary to autoimmune disease: An autoimmune disorder that affects the glands involved in tear and saliva production as well as gastrointestinal tract moisture. It can occur as a secondary condition associated with other autoimmune disorders such as systemic lupus and rheumatoid arthritis.
Sjögren syndrome, primary: An autoimmune disease where the body's immune system attacks parts of the body that produce moisture such as the eyes, mouth and gastrointestinal tract. Sjögren syndrome can occur on its own (primary) or with another connective tissue disease (secondary) such as rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus, systemic sclerosis and polymyositis/dermatomyositis. The condition can be mild or severe.
Sjögren syndrome, secondary: An autoimmune disease where the body's immune system attacks parts of the body that produce moisture such as the eyes, mouth and gastrointestinal tract. Sjögren syndrome can occur on its own (primary) or with another connective tissue disease (secondary) such as rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus, systemic sclerosis and polymyositis/dermatomyositis. The condition can be mild or severe.
Swallowing difficulty: Difficulty or pain when swallowing
Thyroid disorders: Any disorder of the thyroid gland.
Tooth decay: A destructive process causing decalcification of the tooth enamel leading to cavitation of the tooth
Tropical Spastic Paraparesis: A form of spastic partial paralysis of the lower limbs which occurs in the tropics
Vaginal Dryness: Vaginal dryness interfering with sex.
Vasculitis: Inflammation of a blood or lymph vessel
Vitamin A deficiency: Dietary deficiency of vitamin A
Weight loss: Loss of body weight.
Xerostomia: A medical term for a dry mouth due to insufficient saliva. There are numerous causes of a dry mouth including medications and nerve damage.