musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders
Sjögren Syndrome
Introduction
Sjögren syndrome is a relatively common chronic, autoimmune, systemic, inflammatory disorder of unknown cause. It is characterized by dryness of the mouth, eyes, and other mucous membranes (sicca syndrome) due to lymphocytic infiltration of exocrine glands and secondary gland dysfunction. Sjögren syndrome can affect various exocrine glands or other organs. Diagnosis is by specific criteria relating to eye, mouth, and salivary gland involvement, autoantibodies, and (occasionally) histopathology. Treatment is usually symptomatic, but visceral organ involvement is treated with corticosteroids and immunosuppressants. Sjögren syndrome occurs most frequently among middle-aged women. The disease is classified as primary when there is no other associated disease. In about 30% of patients with autoimmune disorders such as Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) , 