Sjögren's Syndrome

Sjögren's syndrome is an autoimmune disease in which lymphocytes infiltrate the lacrimal and salivary glands, reducing tear and saliva production. The result is persistent gritty dry eyes and a dry mouth that makes speaking and swallowing dry food difficult - and, over time, a markedly raised risk of dental decay and corneal damage. Fatigue and joint pain are common and are often what patients find hardest. It occurs alone (primary) or alongside another autoimmune condition such as rheumatoid arthritis or lupus (secondary), and it is far more common in women, usually appearing after age 40. Diagnosis rests on symptoms plus objective tests of tear and saliva flow, anti-Ro/SSA and anti-La/SSB antibodies, and sometimes a labial gland biopsy. Care is shared between rheumatology, ophthalmology and dentistry: tear substitutes, saliva stimulants, meticulous dental prevention, and systemic treatment where organs beyond the glands are involved. Supplement interest centres on omega-3 fats for dry eye, where trial results are mixed, and vitamin D, where deficiency is common but supplementation has not been shown to change disease activity.