Sjögren’s (“SHOW-grins”) Syndrome is an autoimmune disease which occurs when the body’s white blood cells mistakenly attack moisture producing glands. This can cause inflammation and a significant reduction in the quantity and quality of the moisture these glands produce.
It affects:
90% of them are women
Typical onset age is in the late 40’s, but it can strike at any age.
What it is:
One of the most common autoimmune disorders
It is not curable but its symptoms are generally treatable.
Symptoms:
Dry eye and dry mouth
Joint pain and fatigue
Along with symptoms of extensive dryness, other serious complications include profound fatigue, chronic pain, major organ involvement, neuropathies, and lymphomas.
As a systemic disease, affecting the entire body, symptoms may remain steady or worsen overtime. There is no one single progression of the disease and this can make it challenging for patients and their physicians. While some people experience mild discomfort, others suffer debilitating symptoms that greatly impair their functioning. Early diagnosis and proper treatments are important as they may prevent serious complications and greatly improve a patient’s quality of life.
About half of the time Sjögren’s occurs alone, and the other half it occurs in the presence of another autoimmune connective tissue disease such as Rheumatoid Arthritis, Lupus, or Scleroderma.
In addition, Sjögren’s is often misrepresented as a rare disease, however it is estimated that there are four million Americans living with this disease, making it one of the most prevalent autoimmune diseases.