An autoimmune disease is one in which the immune system attacks various components of the body. The parts under attack include tissues of the joints as well as the linings of the kidneys, heart and lungs. In Sjogren’s disease, the immune system invades and weakens the glands responsible for producing tears and saliva. Although it does so in error, the results can be devastating.
What Are the Symptoms of Sjogren’s Syndrome?
Affecting mainly women over 40, this autoimmune disease is characterized by two major symptoms – dry mouth and dry eyes. However, it may also impact other areas where moisture is required. Among them are:
• Nose
• Throat
• Skin
Moreover, Sjogren’s disease can also affect other components of your body including:
• Blood vessels
• Digestive organs
• Joints
• Kidneys
• Lungs
• Nerves
It is important to diagnose the problem quickly, but this can prove to be problematic.
Diagnosis
The signs and symptoms are not the same for every individual. This complicates diagnosing the disease. However, using certain tests can help to rule out other illnesses and help to confirm the actual culprit.
The tools a doctor may use include a physical exam as well as the individual’s medical history. In addition, using equipment and laboratory test products produced by companies such as Trinity Biotech, can help carry out tests useful in discovering the presence of Sjogren’s disease.
Common procedures to diagnose the disease include:
• Eye test: Schirmer tear test
• Blood tests: To detect levels of blood cells as well as the types of antibodies present
• Biopsies: One tissue sample taken from the lips can be used to detect indications of Sjogren’s disease
• Imaging: Sialogram and Salivary scintigraphy
Alone or in combination, these various tests can be applied to diagnose the presence of Sjogren’s syndrome.
Sjogren’s Disease.
There is no cure for Sjogren’s syndrome. The focus of any treatment is upon reducing the discomfort and pain caused by the symptoms. Since everything relies on the actual body component inflicted with the disease, each person is remedied differently.
