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WHAT IS AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION (AMD)?
Sjögren’s (“SHOW-grins”) syndrome is an autoimmune disease that affects the entire body. It’s more common in women than men - with a female: male ratio of 9:1.
It mainly affects individuals between the ages of 40 and 60 (with the disease most frequently occurring in people around 50).
It affects glands that secrete fluid - such as your tear and salivary glands (leading to dry eyes and mouth). Other symptoms include fatigue and joint pain - but it can also affect your organs’ function (kidneys, intestines, blood vessels, lungs, liver, pancreas, or central nervous system). There is also an increased chance of developing lymphoma.
The exact cause of Sjögren’s syndrome is not known. Still, it is believed to be a combination of genetic, environmental, and hormonal factors:
Overall, Sjögren’s syndrome is a complex and multifactorial disease whose exact cause is not fully understood.
Including concentration/memory loss, “brain fog”, dysautonomia, peripheral neuropathy, Raynaud’s syndrome and headaches.
Dry eyes, corneal ulcerations and infections. Preservative-free eye drops and sprays can help with these symptoms.
Including a dry nose, recurrent sinusitis and nosebleeds.
A dry mouth with mouth sores, dental decay, difficulty chewing, speech, and dentures. Swollen, painful parotid and salivary glands. Difficulty swallowing, heartburn, reflux and oesophagitis.
Recurrent bronchitis, interstitial lung disease, and pneumonia.
Joint and muscle pain, including arthritis.
Abnormal liver function tests, chronic active autoimmune hepatitis and primary biliary cholangitis.
Stomach upset, gastroparesis, irritable bowel, autoimmune gastrointestinal dysmotility.
Interstitial cystitis, interstitial nephritis including renal tubular acidosis, glomerulonephritis, and autoimmune pancreatitis. Vaginal dryness, vulvodynia, chronic prostatitis, autoimmune pancreatitis Fatigue, vasculitis, lymphoma, dry skin and skin sensitivity to UV light.
In some cases, lifestyle changes can help with specific symptoms - such as fatigue and gastrointestinal reflux. Over-the-counter products can help with dry eye and mouth symptoms.
No single medicine has been conclusively proven to slow the progression of Sjögren’s syndrome or treat all aspects of the disease. Several different types of medications are used to manage symptoms:
There is no single test that confirms the diagnosis of Sjögren’s syndrome. Specialist doctors (normally rheumatologists) use several tests to diagnose Sjögren’s syndrome: