Sjögren's Disease (SD)


How to pronounce it:

Sjögren's - show·gruhnz


AiArthritis defines Sjögren's Disease as:


Sjögren's Disease can affect many different body parts, including the joints, moisture-producing and mucous-secreting glands, and organs, causing widespread dryness and other serious problems such as neuropathies.

  • Juvenile version is Juvenile SD (jSD)

Symptoms

Symptoms of AiArthritis Diseases Regardless of Diagnosis

Common in All AiArthritis Diseases


  • Periods of worsening symptoms are called flares. A flare can last for hours, days, weeks, or months.
  • Condition improves with activity and exercise and worsens with rest.
  • When inflammation is left uncontrolled due to lack of proper treatment, comorbidities can develop. 70% of patients with chronic, lifelong disease will develop comorbidities, including dual or triple diagnoses.
  • Autoimmune diseases run in families. If anyone in your immediate family (parents, siblings) or extended family (aunts, uncles, grandparents) have been diagnosed with ANY autoimmune disease, there is the possibility of genetic predisposition.

Typical “Auto” Symptoms




  • Severe fatigue or exhaustion that may not be helped by caffeine/stimulants and can happen even after a long period of rest.
  • “Brain fog” - or periods of time where thinking gets clouded and it becomes difficult to concentrate.
  • Flu-like symptoms, without having the flu- nausea, muscle weakness, and general malaise.
  • Fever, typically low grade in autoimmune (with exception of juvenile idiopathic arthritis) and higher grade in autoinflammatory (% strongly varies per disease).


Reference: Early Symptoms of AiArthritis Study, AiArthritis, 2019.


View Early Symptoms Study

Typical Arthritis Symptoms




  • Severe stiffness in one or more joints, especially in the morning or after sitting for long periods of time. 
  • Episodes of joint pain that may last for hours, days, or even weeks, that can appear and disappear suddenly. Often described as “jumping pain” into different locations.


Typically the joint pain will coincide with one or more “Auto” symptoms and start and stop suddenly - for no apparent reason (which is called a "flare").  Some people will experience all of the above symptoms, others only a few.  If you have any of the arthritis features, and at least one of the “Auto” features, please consult your physician about a referral to a specialist.


Symptoms Often Associated with Sjögren's Disease:

  • Dry mouth
  • Dry eyes
  • Dry skin
  • Mouth sores
  • Oral yeast infections
  • Swollen salivary glands — particularly the set located behind your jaw and in front of your ears
  • Persistent dry cough
  • Headaches
  • Dry nose, recurrent sinusitis, nosebleeds
  • Swollen, painful parotid/salivary glands
  • Difficulty swallowing, heartburn, reflux, esophagitis
  • Skin sensitivity to UV light
  • Recurrent bronchitis, interstitial lung disease, pneumonia
  • Peripheral neuropathy
  • Raynaud’s phenomenon - Fingers and toes that turn white or blue when exposed to cold or during stressful periods
  • Interstitial cystitis, interstitial nephritis including renal tubular acidosis, glomerulonephritis
  • Vaginal dryness, vulvodynia; chronic prostatitis

What fellow patients want you to know

There aren't treatments specifically on the market that are tested to stop the progression of Sjögren's, patients are given tools to help alleviate the symptoms.


There are current clinical trials (many!), but current treatments are borrowed from other diseases, like Rheumatoid Arthritis.



Persistent dry eyes and mouth can be very detrimental to overall health and keeping moisturized is key. Damage in the eyes and mouth can lead to expensive treatments being required.


If your doctor says you can't have Sjogren's because you don't have the anti-SSA anti-SSB biomarkers politely ask why not? Only 60-70% of positive SD patients are positive for the antibody so is there any other reason they suspect it is not?

It is not uncommon to have bad dental issues (teeth breaking, many cavities and root canals, gum disease) with Sjogren's. If able, try to purchase some type of dental insurance or supplementary help because this part of the disease can be costly.

More About Sjögren's Disease

Diagnosing Sjögren's Disease

There’s no single definitive test that can confirm a diagnosis of Sjögren’s DIsease (SD), so rheumatologists look at a combination of physical exam, blood and urine tests, along with a family history of autoimmune disease (any autoimmune diagnosis). They will also consider any other autoimmune diseases you may have yourself since SD is a very common comorbidity to several AiArthritis diseases.


The rheumatologist will see if the arthritis is in more than one location and if it is chronic (has lasted for more than 6 weeks continuously or has come and go during that time). They will look closely at the joints to see if there is any swelling, redness, or warmth (although this isn't required for diagnosis - it is more to see the severity).


Most rheumatologists today will also consider if you are feeling other common symptoms (see Common Symptoms in All AiArthritis Diseases), which can help differentiate from any other diagnosis vs. an AiArthritis disease.


A blood and urine test will look for the presence of antibodies, anti-SSA (Ro) or anti-SSB (La), that are common in people that have Sjogren’s Disease, but only in 60-70%. Doctors are also looking for inflammatory markers and indications of a possible kidney issue.


Diagnosis of Sjögren’s Disease is heavily dictated by the presence of symptoms - specifically dry eye and dry mouth. It is important to document these symptoms and express their longevity. Further tests may need to be done such as an exam with an ophthalmologist or a lip biopsy to determine the severity of disease. 


Notable Persons with this Disease

  • Venus Williams, Professional Tennis Player
  • Halsey, Singer
  • Carrie Ann Inaba, Dancer/TV Personality

Interesting Facts about this Disease

  • Ten times as many women as men are diagnosed with Sjögren's. While most often diagnosed in women during middle age or after menopause
  • Sjögren's often occurs with other AiArthritis diseases such as Rheumatoid Arthritis and Lupus

In an effort to ensure this page has the most accurate and up-to-date information, this page is currently awaiting medical review. Some information is subject to change.


Page Last Updated: 2/1/2023

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