An autoimmune disorder in which antibodies cause damage to the glands that make and control moisture in the body is called Sjögren’s syndrome. One of the most common symptoms of this syndrome is dryness in the mouth, eyes, and vagina. This condition is often managed with a combination of treatments that help lessen the symptoms and reduce the impact on your daily routine.
If you develop this condition, the immune system will produce antibodies that cause damage to specific glands in the body that control moisture in the following systems and organs. For example:
- Nose
- Throat
- Digestive system
- Vagina
- Mouth (salivary glands)
- Tear system
If you have dryness in the eyes, mouth, or another part of the body for more than 14 days, immediately contact your healthcare professional.
Types
Physicians have divided this syndrome into 2 types. For example:
- Primary Sjögren’s syndrome – This type develops on its own, and it is not caused by another health condition.
- Secondary Sjögren’s syndrome – In such cases, this syndrome is triggered by another health condition.
According to some research, approximately 2 million people have Sjögren’s syndrome in the U.S.
Symptoms
This syndrome may cause different symptoms. Check below the most common ones:
- Dry skin, nose, throat, eyes, mouth, or vagina
- Mouth sores
- Frequent cough
- Nosebleeds
- Thickened saliva
- Itchy eyes
However, this condition may also cause other symptoms. These include:
- Increased sensitivity to light
- Joint pain
- Extreme tiredness (fatigue)
- Tooth decay or loss
- Skin rash
- Neuropathy
- Heartburn or other types of indigestion
- Difficulty swallowing (also known as dysphagia)
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Muscle pain
- Weakness
- Loss of taste
- Brain fog (difficulty focusing or thinking)
If you experience any of the previous symptoms, immediately contact your healthcare professional.
Causes
This syndrome is an autoimmune disorder. Generally, autoimmune disorders produce antibodies that mistakenly attack healthy cells instead of bacteria and other germs. Healthcare providers do not fully understand why this condition occurs, but the primary type of syndrome occurs without known triggers or causes. However, if you develop secondary Sjögren’s syndrome, you may also have the following health problems. For example:
- Hepatitis C
- Cytomegalovirus (CMV)
- Epstein-Barr virus
- Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 (HTLV)
- COVID-19
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Psoriatic arthritis
- Lupus
Furthermore, not everyone who experiences previous health conditions will develop Sjögren’s syndrome. However, this syndrome may increase the risk of developing other autoimmune disorders.
Risk Factors
While physicians cannot always identify the exact cause of this syndrome, they have identified some factors that may increase the risk of developing it. Check below some examples:
- Sex – Mostly (more than 90%), this condition is diagnosed in women.
- Other autoimmune disorders – Approximately 50% of people with this syndrome have at least one other autoimmune disease.
- Age – This disorder may affect anyone (including children, younger adults, and older adults), but it mostly occurs between the ages of 45 to 55.
- A family history of Sjögren’s syndrome – If you have a parent or sibling with this autoimmune disorder, your risk of developing it significantly increases.
- Hormonal imbalances
What Happens if Sjögren’s Syndrome is Left Untreated?
People with Sjögren’s syndrome may also experience some complications, especially if they do not get treatment. Examples include:
- An increased risk of oral and eye infections
- Abnormal kidney or liver function
- Lymphomas (malignant tumors in the lymph nodes)
- Lung conditions that are often mistaken for pneumonia
- Neurological problems that usually cause numbness or weakness
- Dental issues
- Pregnancy complications (including fetal heart block, miscarriage, preterm birth, and others)
This article does not contain a complete list of complications. Talk with your healthcare professional about ways to reduce the risk or even prevent these complications.
How to Prevent Sjögren’s Syndrome?
Nowadays, there is no way to prevent this syndrome because experts do not fully understand why it happens.
Diagnosis
Usually, to confirm this condition, you may need to see multiple healthcare specialists. These include dentists, otolaryngologists (nose, throat, and ear specialists), ophthalmologists, and rheumatologists. However, your physician may also perform a physical examination to check for irregularities linked to the disease and some tests. Check below some examples:
- Eye examinations
- Blood tests
- Dental cleaning and checkup
- Biopsy
- X-rays
- Urinalysis (also known as urine tests)
Previous tests may also help exclude other conditions that cause similar symptoms to Sjögren’s syndrome.
Treatment
In most cases, doctors recommend different treatments for people with Sjögren’s syndrome because it depends on several factors. For example, the type and severity of the condition, overall health, age, and preferences. Check below some treatments for dryness in the eyes, mouth, or vagina:
- Artificial tears – Your doctor may recommend over-the-counter (OTC) eye drops, prescription eye drops, or lubricants that help keep the eyes moist.
- Dry eye surgery (also known as punctal plugs) – During this procedure, eye surgeons close tear ducts to keep the natural tears in the eyes for a long period.
- Saliva producers – Dentists may recommend OTC supplements or prescription medicines to help the body produce more saliva. They may also suggest chewing gum, sipping water throughout the day, ice chips, and others.
- Special mouthwash or dental care products – People with this syndrome are at increased risk of developing dental problems. Therefore, they require more frequent cleanings, special Fluoride treatments, and a prescription toothpaste and mouthwash.
- Vaginal moisturizers or lubricants – These include OTC or prescription lubricants that should be used daily to add moisture to the vagina or during sexual intercourse.
- Hormone therapy – In some cases, people need hormone therapy (such as supplemental Estrogen). For example, to treat vaginal dryness that happens due to hormonal imbalances.
In addition, doctors may recommend additional medicines to treat pain. Examples include:
- OTC pain relievers – Doctors often recommend NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) or Acetaminophen to relieve pain caused by Sjögren’s syndrome.
- Corticosteroids – This group of medicines is used to lessen inflammation.
- Immunosuppressants – These are prescription medicines used to reduce the activity of the immune system. Usually, physicians prescribe disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs).
Frequently Asked Questions
What can I expect if I have Sjögren’s syndrome?
It is important to expect that you will need treatment for the rest of your life after diagnosis. It also may take time to find the treatment that works for you. Usually, people with this syndrome find that the symptoms become less severe as they learn how to manage them over time.
Can you live a long life with Sjögren’s?
In most cases, with treatment, people live a normal life.
Can you stop Sjögren’s from progressing?
While there are multiple medicines that help reduce the symptoms, there is no treatment that can slow the progression of this autoimmune disorder. Ask your healthcare professional if you have any other questions.
