Your body’s immune system fights off disease and infection. But if your immune system is overactive, it can lead to problems. Sjögren’s (pronounced SHOW-grins) disease is one condition linked to an overactive immune system.
Sjögren’s disease is an autoimmune disorder. Problems with your immune system cause autoimmune disorders. About half of people with Sjögren’s disease have another autoimmune disorder.
People with Sjögren’s disease develop inflammation in the glands that produce tears and saliva. This inflammation leads to dry eyes and dry mouth.
Common Sjögren’s disease symptoms include:
Dry eyes
Dry mouth
Recurring cavities
Skin dryness
Swollen glands
Thrush
Tiredness
Vaginal dryness
Sjögren’s disease affects each person differently. In more severe cases, Sjögren’s disease can cause damage to internal organs and joints. Your doctor will check for symptoms of more severe Sjögren’s disease.
Diagnosing Sjögren’s disease
Doctors at UW Health perform many tests to diagnose Sjögren’s disease. These tests are all performed within our Sjögren’s Syndrome Clinic. Diagnostic tests include:
Blood tests
Head and neck imaging tests
Tear and saliva production measurements
Medical treatments for Sjögren's disease include:
Over-the-counter artificial tears
Over-the-counter gels and ointments for dry eyes
Over-the-counter sprays and gels for dry sinuses
Prescription drugs for dry eyes and dry mouth
Topical hormones for vaginal dryness
Some people with Sjögren’s disease benefit from tear duct surgery. This procedure can relieve dry eyes. You and your doctor will determine if this is right for you.
Sjögren’s disease research
Experts at UW Health want to know more about Sjögren’s disease. To do this, we conduct research in order to learn more about Sjögren’s disease to develop new treatments. We're currently studying:
Sjögren’s disease and mesenchymal stromal cells (e.g. stem cells)
Discover new autoantibody targets to improve diagnosis and treatment of Sjögren’s disease
Study the role of sex hormones in Sjögren’s disease
To gather even more information about Sjögren’s disease, we are building a patient registry. Patient registries allow doctors to track the success of treatments.
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Managing Sjögren’s disease
Many symptoms of Sjögren’s disease can be managed with simple lifestyle changes. Learn tips to manage Sjögren’s
How can I prepare for my visit?
Be prepared to discuss your symptoms, past medical history, past surgical history and current medications (including over-the-counter medicines)
You might be asked about a history of head/neck radiation, hepatitis C, HIV, cancer or cataract/eye surgery
Do not eat or drink anything but sips of water on the morning of your first visit because your doctor may order/perform tests requiring that you have not eaten
If you are taking treatment for dry eye (eye drops) or mouth (things to make more saliva), stop the day before your visit
What should I expect during my visit?
Your doctor might perform a test to measure eye wetness. This is called a Schirmer's test. You might need to visit an eye doctor for further specialized dry eye testing.
Your doctor might perform a test to measure saliva production. This is called a salivary flow test.
Blood tests: Measures of blood counts, Sjögren's-related antibodies, blood proteins, kidney and liver tests and evidence of other diseases of the immune systems.
Imaging: You might be given an ultrasound, a sialogram (a type of X-ray) or an MRI to look at the glands of your head and neck.
Minor salivary gland biopsy: Your doctor might want to perform a biopsy of your lip to obtain minor salivary glands. These glands are evaluated through a microscope to assess for inflammation. The minor salivary gland can be used as part of the diagnosis of Sjögren's disease and can also be used as a tool to predict how severe the Sjögren's disease might become in an individual patient.