Sjögren's syndrome is an autoimmune disorder in which immune cells attack and destroy the glands that produce tears and saliva. It is named after the Swedish ophthalmologist, Dr. Henrik Sjögren (1899-1986), who first described it. Sjögren's syndrome is also associated with rheumatic disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis, and it is rheumatoid factor positive in 90% of the cases. The hallmark symptoms of the disorder are dry mouth and dry eyes. In addition, Sjögren's syndrome may cause skin, nose, and vaginal dryness, and may affect other organs of the body including the kidneys, blood vessels, lungs, liver, pancreas, and brain. Autoimmune diseases arise from an overactive immune response of the body against substances and tissues normally present in the body. ... White Blood Cells is also the name of a White Stripes album. ... A gland is an organ in an animals body that synthesizes a substance for release such as hormones, often into the bloodstream (endocrine gland) or into cavities inside the body or its outer surface (exocrine gland). ... Tears trickling down the cheeks Lacrimation is the bodys process of producing tears, which are a liquid to clean and lubricate the eyes. ... For the band, see Saliva (band). ... Ophthalmology is the branch of medicine which deals with the diseases of the eye and their treatment. ... Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, inflammatory autoimmune disorder that causes the immune system to attack the joints. ... Rheumatoid factor (RF) is a blood test performed in patients with suspected rheumatoid arthritis (RA). ... Model of the layers of human skin In zootomy and dermatology, skin is an organ of the integumentary system; which is composed of a layer of tissues that protect underlying muscles and organs. ... Human nose Anatomically, a nose is a protuberance in vertebrates that houses the nostrils, or nares, which admit and expel air for respiration. ... Human female internal reproductive anatomy The vagina (from the Latin for sheath or scabbard ) is the tubular tract leading from the uterus to the exterior of the body in female mammals, or to the cloaca in female birds and some reptiles. ... In biology, an organ (Latin organum: instrument, tool) is a group of tissues, which perform a specific function or group of functions. ... Kidneys viewed from behind with spine removed The kidneys are bean-shaped excretory organs in vertebrates. ... The blood vessels are part of the circulatory system and function to transport blood throughout the body. ... The heart in relation to the lungs (from an older edition of Grays Anatomy) This x-ray of the human chest shows the lungs as dark regions The lung is an organ belonging to the respiratory system and interfacing to the circulatory system of air-breathing vertebrates. ... The liver is an organ in vertebrates including humans. ... The pancreas is a retroperitoneal organ that serves two functions: exocrine - it produces pancreatic juice containing digestive enzymes endocrine - it produces several important hormones Anatomy The pancreas is a retroperitoneal organ located posterior to the stomach on the posterior abdominal wall. ... In the anatomy of animals, the brain, or encephalon, is the supervisory center of the nervous system. ...

Diagnosis

Diagnosing Sjögren’s syndrome is complicated by the range of symptoms a patient may manifest, and the similarity between symptoms from Sjögren's syndrome and those caused by other conditions. Nevertheless, several tests can confirm a diagnosis of Sjögren's syndrome. Blood tests can be done to determine if a patient has high levels of antibodies that are indicative of the condition, such as anti-nuclear antibody (ANA) and rheumatoid factor, which are associated with autoimmune diseases. The Schirmer test measures the production of tears: a strip of filter paper is held inside the lower eyelid for five minutes, and its wetness is then measured with a ruler. A slit-lamp examination is done to look for dryness on the surface of the eye. Salivary gland function can be tested by collecting saliva and determining the amount produced. A lip biopsy can reveal lymphocytes clustered around salivary glands, and damage to these glands due to inflammation. Antinuclear antibodies (ANAs, also known as antinuclear factor or ANF) are detected in a large group of autoimmune disorders. ... Rheumatoid factor (RF) is a blood test performed in patients with suspected rheumatoid arthritis (RA). ... Schirmers test determines whether the eye produces enough tears to keep it moist. ... The slit-lamp examination looks at structures that are at the front of the eye (the anterior segment): The eyelid, the sclera (white outer structure of the eye), conjunctiva (membranes lining the eyelid and sclera surface), iris (colored part of the eye), natural crystalline lens, and the cornea (thin transparent... A biopsy (in Greek: bios = life and opsy = look/appearance) is a medical test involving the removal of cells or tissues for examination. ... A lymphocyte is a type of white blood cell involved in the human bodys immune system. ... Inflammation is the first response of the immune system to infection or irritation and may be referred to as the innate cascade. ...

Treatment

There is no known cure for Sjögren's syndrome nor is there a specific treatment to restore gland secretion. Treatment is generally symptomatic and supportive. Moisture replacement therapies such as artifical tears may ease the symptoms of dryness (some patients with more severe problems use goggles to increase local humidity). Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may be used to treat musculoskeletal symptoms. For individuals with severe complications, corticosteroids or immunosuppressive drugs may be prescribed. Also, disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) such as methotrexate may be helpful. Humidity is the quantity of moisture in the air. ... Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, usually abbreviated to NSAIDs, are drugs with analgesic, antipyretic and anti-inflammatory effects - they reduce pain, fever and inflammation. ... In physiology, corticosteroids are a class of steroid hormones that are produced in the adrenal cortex. ... Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs is a category of drugs used in many autoimmune diseases to slow down disease progression. ... Methotrexate (abbreviated MTX; formerly known as amethopterin) is an antimetabolite drug used in treatment of cancer and autoimmune disease. ...

Prognosis

Sjögren's can damage vital organs of the body with symptoms that may plateau, worsen, or go into remission. Some people may experience only the mild symptoms of dry eyes and mouth, while others go through cycles of good health followed by severe disease. Many patients are able to treat problems symptomatically. Others are forced to cope with blurred vision, constant eye discomfort, recurrent mouth infections, swollen parotid glands, hoarseness, and difficulty in swallowing and eating. Debilitating fatigue and joint pain can seriously impair quality of life. Remission is the state of absence of disease activity in patients with known chronic illness. ... An infection is the detrimental colonization of a host organism by a foreign species. ... The parotid gland is the largest of the salivary glands. ... Fatigue is a feeling of excessive tiredness or lethargy, with a desire to rest, perhaps to sleep. ...

Research

The goals of research on disorders such as Sjogren's syndrome focus on increasing knowledge and under-standing of the disorder, improving diagnostic techniques, and finding ways to treat, prevent, and cure the disorder.

Reference

• Sjögren H. Zur Kenntnis der keratoconjunctivitis sicca. Doctoral thesis, 1933.

1933 was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ...

External links

• The original text from this article was obtained from a public domain resource at: www.ninds.nih.gov/health_and_medical/disorders/sjogrens_doc  (http://www.ninds.nih.gov/health_and_medical/disorders/sjogrens_doc.htm)
• Sjögren's Syndrome Foundation (http://www.sjogrens.org)