Sjögren's syndrome
Article
Sjögren's syndrome is a chronic autoimmune disease in which immune activity commonly damages the glands that produce tears and saliva. The characteristic symptoms are persistent dry eyes and dry mouth, although the condition can affect many other organs.
Inflammation may involve the joints, skin, lungs, kidneys, nerves, blood vessels, and digestive or reproductive systems. Fatigue and pain are common, and symptoms vary greatly among individuals.
Diagnosis may use symptom history, examination, tear and salivary measurements, blood tests for autoantibodies, imaging, and sometimes a minor salivary-gland biopsy. No single finding is present in every affected person.
Sjögren's syndrome can occur alone or with another autoimmune disorder such as rheumatoid arthritis or lupus. Management focuses on relieving dryness, protecting eyes and teeth, treating systemic inflammation when present, and monitoring complications, including an increased risk of some lymphomas.
Source details and credits
- Source / publisher: Wikipedia
- URL type: WWW
- Credits: Wikipedia
- URL: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sjo%CC%88gren's_syndrome