Sjögren’s Syndrome diagnosis & treatment in Bhubaneswar
Sjögren’s syndrome is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks the glands that make tears and saliva, causing dry eyes and dry mouth.
What is Sjögren’s syndrome?
an autoimmune dryness disorder
Sjögren’s syndrome is an autoimmune disease characterised by dry eyes and dry mouth, caused by inflammation of the tear and saliva glands.
- There is inflammation in the parotid glands (which secrete saliva) and the lacrimal glands (which secrete tears), reducing their function and lowering saliva and tear production.
- It is usually seen in middle-aged women, after 35 years of age, and occurs in females about 9 times more often than in males.
- Complications in other parts of the body can occur — pain and stiffness in the joints, and rashes on the arms and legs related to blood-vessel inflammation (vasculitis) are very common.
- More rarely, inflammation in the lungs, liver and kidneys may occur and can be difficult to diagnose.
- The parotid gland (at the edge of the jaw) may become swollen and inflamed in some people with Sjögren’s syndrome.
Signs & symptoms
what Sjögren’s feels like
- The most common symptoms involve the eyes and mouth, causing dryness of the mouth and a gritty sensation in the eyes.
- Because saliva helps protect teeth from the bacteria that cause cavities, a dry mouth makes you more prone to developing dental cavities.
- Fungal infections: people with Sjögren’s syndrome are much more likely to develop oral thrush, a yeast infection in the mouth.
- Eye problems: dry eyes, if not treated with artificial eyedrops, may lead to blurred vision and corneal damage.
- Lungs, kidneys or liver may less commonly be affected — leading to pneumonia, bronchitis or other lung problems, or problems with kidney function.
- Nerves: patients may develop numbness, tingling and burning in the hands and feet (peripheral neuropathy).
- Malignancy: a small percentage of people with Sjögren’s syndrome develop cancer of the lymph nodes (lymphoma).
Watch: understanding Sjögren’s syndrome symptoms (opens YouTube)
Persistent dry eyes and dry mouth? See a rheumatologist early — timely treatment protects your eyes, teeth and internal organs from long-term damage.
Book AppointmentWhat causes
Sjögren’s syndrome?
- Sjögren’s syndrome is an autoimmune disease in which there is inflammation of different organs — mainly the salivary and tear glands, leading to dry eyes and dry mouth — because of an immune attack.
- Normally our immune system attacks outside invading organisms like bacteria and viruses, and is designed to protect our own body parts.
- In Sjögren’s syndrome, the immune system becomes dysregulated and attacks one’s own body parts and organs. Although it is not completely known why this happens, there is a contribution of multiple factors such as genes, environment and infection.
- Many infections, including the Epstein-Barr (EB) virus, are known to trigger the autoimmune process in some patients with Sjögren’s syndrome.
Sjögren’s syndrome
at a glance
The most common symptom is dryness of the mouth and eyes due to reduced saliva and tear production.
There may be a small increased risk of cancer of the lymph glands (lymphoma), so regular follow-up is important — though this is not seen in all Sjögren’s patients.
How Sjögren’s syndrome
is diagnosed
Like other autoimmune diseases, diagnosis depends on a combination of symptoms, physical examination and blood tests.
Diagnosis begins with a careful history of dry-eye and dry-mouth symptoms and a full physical examination by a trained rheumatologist, combined with supporting blood tests.
Special tests assess any decrease in tear production — such as Schirmer’s test or the tear break-up time test — usually performed by an eye specialist.
An ANA profile test is done to detect specific autoantibodies in the blood — Anti-Ro and Anti-La antibodies — which support the diagnosis of Sjögren’s syndrome.
If antibody tests are negative, a biopsy of the minor salivary glands under the surface of the inner lip is done to confirm the diagnosis.
Watch: more on Sjögren’s syndrome from OARC (opens YouTube)
How Sjögren’s syndrome
is treated
Treatment is mainly aimed at relieving symptoms and preventing long-term complications such as infection and dental disease.
Dry eyes
Dry eyes are usually treated with artificial tears applied regularly during the day, or gels applied at night. In severe cases, anti-inflammatory eyedrops such as cyclosporine may be used.
Dry mouth
Drinking frequent sips of water, chewing gum or using saliva substitutes may relieve a dry mouth. Pilocarpine and cevimeline are drugs that increase secretion from the salivary and lacrimal glands, and can be used in severe cases.
Oral & nasal care
Frequent brushing of teeth and maintaining good oral hygiene are very important to prevent dental caries. Humidifiers and nasal saline irrigation may improve nasal dryness.
Hydroxychloroquine
Hydroxychloroquine may be helpful in most patients with Sjögren’s syndrome to reduce joint pain, rash and fatigue.
Serious symptoms
Patients with serious symptoms — such as fever, refractory rashes, abdominal pain, or lung or kidney problems — may require treatment with corticosteroids such as prednisone and/or immunosuppressive drugs like methotrexate, azathioprine, mycophenolate or rituximab.
Review visits with the OARC rheumatology team run Monday to Saturday, 9:00 AM–2:00 PM and 4:30–9:00 PM. Call +91 93386 53086 or book online.
How OARC Can Help?
At OARC, we offer holistic care to patients suffering from all kinds of arthritis and autoimmune diseases by our renowned rheumatologists. Because of the chronic nature of the disease, we spend time with the patient helping them to know about their disease, and demystify the myths regarding the disease and treatment. We have collaboration with an NABL accredited laboratory where all kinds of blood tests can be done at reasonable costs. We also have a patient support system which patients can approach in case of any emergency. We believe in a friendly relation with patients so that they can share all their sufferings and get the best possible treatment.
- Best doctors to treat
- State-of-the-art clinic
- All facilities available under one roof
- NABL accredited laboratory
- Same-day test results
- Convenient location
What happens if Sjögren’s
is left untreated?
- Persistent dryness of the eyes and mouth can lead to serious problems such as eye infections, corneal damage, dental decay, oral infections and difficulty swallowing.
- Over time, it may affect internal organs including the lungs, kidneys, liver and nerves, causing complications such as chronic cough, kidney disease or neuropathy.
- In severe cases, untreated Sjögren’s syndrome increases the risk of developing lymphoma (a type of blood cancer).
- Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial to control symptoms, protect organs and reduce long-term risks.
Questions to ask your doctor
- Do I have primary Sjögren’s syndrome, or is it linked to another autoimmune disease?
- Which eyedrops and dry-mouth treatments are right for me?
- Should I be taking hydroxychloroquine for joint pain and fatigue?
- How often should my eyes, teeth and internal organs be monitored?
- What symptoms should prompt me to call the clinic quickly?
Frequently Asked Questions
Sjögren’s care in Odisha
Meet the rheumatologist
behind your care
Dr. Jyoti Ranjan Parida
Founder & Lead Rheumatologist at OARC. Dr. Parida pioneered specialist rheumatology care in Odisha since 2014 and leads the OARC rheumatology team — with fellow rheumatologist Dr. Debashis Maikap — at our Bhubaneswar centre. Consultations run Monday to Saturday, 9:00 AM–2:00 PM and 4:30–9:00 PM.