Sjogren's Syndrome

Introduction: Sjogren's Syndrome

Sjogren's Syndrome: Sjogren's syndrome is an autoimmune disorder in which immune cells attack and destroy the glands that produce tears and saliva. Sjogren's ... more about Sjogren's Syndrome.

Sjogren's Syndrome: Autoimmune disease damaging the eye tear ducts and other glands. More detailed information about the symptoms, causes, and treatments of Sjogren's Syndrome is available below.

Symptoms of Sjogren's Syndrome

• Early symptoms:
  • One-sided swollen parotid salivary gland
  • Both parotid salivary glands swollen
  • Swollen cheeks
  • Swollen jaw

See full list of 63 symptoms of Sjogren's Syndrome

Medical Textbooks Online about Sjogren's Syndrome

Book excerpts: Copyright © 2007 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. All rights reserved.

Diagnostic Tests for Sjogren's Syndrome

• Schirmer 1 test - a test of eyelid wetness
• Schirmer 2 test - a test of nasal wetness
• Eye stain dye tests
• Rose bengal
• Lissamine green

See full list of 18 diagnostic tests for Sjogren's Syndrome

Wrongly Diagnosed with Sjogren's Syndrome?

• Misdiagnosis of Sjogren's Syndrome
• Failure to diagnose Sjogren's Syndrome
• Underlying causes of Sjogren's Syndrome (possibly wrongly diagnosed)
• Failure to diagnose Sjogren's Syndrome

Causes of Sjogren's Syndrome

• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Lupus

Read more about causes of Sjogren's Syndrome

More information about causes of Sjogren's Syndrome:

• Underlying causes of Sjogren's Syndrome
• Sjogren's Syndrome as a symptom
• Medical news summaries relating to Causes of Sjogren's Syndrome

Treatments for Sjogren's Syndrome

• Moisture replacement therapies
• Dry eye treatments
  • Artificial tears
  • Eye ointment
  • Propyl methylcellulose (Lacriserts)

See full list of 67 treatments for Sjogren's Syndrome

Videos for Sjogren's Syndrome

Patient Surveys for Sjogren's Syndrome

• Patient Profile Survey
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Prognosis for Sjogren's Syndrome

Prognosis for Sjogren's Syndrome: Not life threatening. Not life-shortening. Lifelong treatment.

More about prognosis of Sjogren's Syndrome

Reseach about Sjogren's Syndrome

Visit our research pages for current research about Sjogren's Syndrome treatments.

Clinical Trials for Sjogren's Syndrome

The US based website ClinicalTrials.gov lists information on both federally and privately supported clinical trials using human volunteers.

Some of the clinical trials listed on ClinicalTrials.gov for Sjogren's Syndrome include:

• Dose-Response Study of OPC-12759 Ophthalmic Suspension - This study is currently recruiting patients (Current: 23 Nov 2006) - OPC-12759
• Comparative Study of 0.5% Carboxymethylcellulose With 0.005% Stabilized Oxychlorocomplex (PURITE) Versus 0.5% Carboxymethylcellulose in the Treatment of Dry Eye - This study has been completed (Current: 23 Nov 2006) - 0.5% carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) with purite and CMC alone
• Efficacy and Safety Study for Ecabet Ophthalmic Solution for Treating Dry Eye Syndrome - This study is no longer recruiting patients (Current: 23 Nov 2006) - Ecabet ophthalmic solution (2.83% or 3.70%)
• Soothe Versus Refresh - This study is currently recruiting patients (Current: 23 Nov 2006) - Soothe,Refresh Tears
• Efficacy of T1675 Versus Placebo in Patients With Bilateral Treated Moderate Dry Eye Syndrome - This study has been completed (Current: 23 Nov 2006) - Food supplement (T1675)

See full list of 59 Clinical Trials for Sjogren's Syndrome

Statistics for Sjogren's Syndrome

• Medical statistics for Sjogren's Syndrome
• Prevalence and incidence statistics for Sjogren's Syndrome
• Death and Mortality statistics for Sjogren's Syndrome
• Society statistics for Sjogren's Syndrome

Types of Sjogren's Syndrome

• Primary Sjögren's syndrome
• Secondary Sjögren's syndrome - associated with another undering cause such as Rheumatoid arthritis or lupus.

Read more about Types of Sjogren's Syndrome

Medical Guidebooks and Ebooks for Sjogren's Syndrome

• Medifocus Guidebook for Sjogren's Syndrome
• Icon Health Sourcebook for Sjogren's Syndrome

See all guides and ebooks for Sjogren's Syndrome

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User Interactive Forums

Read about other experiences, ask a question about Sjogren's Syndrome, or answer someone else's question, on our message boards:

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Article Excerpts about Sjogren's Syndrome

NINDS Sjogren's Syndrome Information Page: NINDS (Excerpt)

Sjogren's syndrome is an autoimmune disorder in which immune cells attack and destroy the glands that produce tears and saliva. Sjogren's syndrome is also associated with rheumatic disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis. (Source: excerpt from NINDS Sjogren's Syndrome Information Page: NINDS)

Questions and Answers About Sjögren's Syndrome: NIAMS (Excerpt)

Sjögren's (SHOW-grins) syndrome is an autoimmune disease--that is, a disease in which the immune system turns against the body's own cells. In Sjögren's syndrome, the immune system targets moisture-producing glands and causes dryness in the mouth and eyes. Other parts of the body can be affected as well, resulting in a wide range of possible symptoms. (Source: excerpt from Questions and Answers About Sjögren's Syndrome: NIAMS)

Connective Tissue Diseases: NWHIC (Excerpt)

Sjögren's syndrome (also called "Sjögren's disease") is a chronic, slowly progressing inability to secrete saliva and tears. It can occur alone or with rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma, or systemic lupus erythematosus. Nine out of 10 cases occur in women, most often at or around mid­life. (Source: excerpt from Connective Tissue Diseases: NWHIC)

Wiki article about Sjogren's Syndrome

See full article about Sjogren's Syndrome

Definitions of Sjogren's Syndrome:

WHAT: Keratoconjunctivitis sicca. Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca (KCS): an eye condition in which there is decreased tear production and inflammation of the cornea and conjunctiva. WHY: Keratoconjunctivitis sicca is found in a significant number of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. KCS has also been described in systemic lupus erythematosus, polyarteritis nodosa, and scleroderma. KCS plus xerostomia is called the sicca syndrome. The association of the sicca syndrome with rheumatoid arthritis is known as Sjogren's syndrome. HOW: Clinically, patients with KCS may present with itching, burning eyes. They may complain of a dry sensation or of a foreign body sensation of the eyes. The conjunctiva is hyperemic, and thick strands of mucus may cover the eye. With slit lamp examination there is less than 1 mm of tear width at the margins of the upper and lower lids. There is increased debris and mucus strands within the tear film, seen best after blinking. Tiny punctate opacities are seen throughout the corneal surface. The Schirmer tear test (which is most accurately performed without topical anesthesia) shows less than 5 mm of wetting of filter paper at the end of 5 minutes. Finally, rose bengal, which is a water soluble dye specific for devitalized cells and mucin, will stain the dessicated corneal and conjunctival cells a bright red color. REFS: 1) Henkind, P and Gold, DH: Ocular manifestations of rheumatic disorders. Rheumatology 4:13, 1973. 2) Havener, W: Synopsis of ophthamology. St. Louis, C.V. Mosby Company, 1979. 3) Anderson, JR; Whaley, K; Williams, J and Buchanan, WW: A statistical aid to the diagnosis of keratoconjunctivitis sicca. Quart J Med 41:175, 1972. DN19292-9. - (Source - Diseases Database)

Sjogren's Syndrome is listed as a "rare disease" by the Office of Rare Diseases (ORD) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This means that Sjogren's Syndrome, or a subtype of Sjogren's Syndrome, affects less than 200,000 people in the US population.
Source - National Institutes of Health (NIH)