Sjögren's syndrome can sometimes lead to complications. For example, your eyesight could be permanently damaged if the reduced tear production isn't treated. Sjögren's syndrome also increases your risk of developing non-Hodgkin lymphoma, which is a cancer of the lymph glands.
Most people who have Sjögren's syndrome live their lives without any significant problems. However, a dry mouth means that you are more likely to have dental problems, such as tooth decay and infection. Dry eyes can also place you at risk for eye infections.
The main symptoms are dry eyes and mouth, but other parts of the body may be affected as well, with many people reporting fatigue and joint and muscle pain. In addition, the disease can damage the lungs, kidneys, and nervous system.
Inflammation can cause pneumonia, bronchitis or other problems in your lungs; lead to problems with kidney function; and cause hepatitis or cirrhosis in your liver. Lymph nodes. A small percentage of people with Sjogren's syndrome develop cancer of the lymph nodes (lymphoma).
If Sjögren's syndrome isn't treated appropriately, significant, long-term complications could result that affect your eyes, mouth, lungs, kidneys, liver or lymph nodes — complications including blindness, significant dental destruction and non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
Global cognitive impairment in Sjögren's
Most patients experience “brain fog” symptoms, which manifest as memory lapses, forgetfulness, mental confusion, and difficulties in concentrating, organizing, or anticipating future events.
These and previous studies suggest a model for pSS that separates the disease into several stages: 1) initial injury to the submandibular and lacrimal glands via an environmental insult and LTα; 2) amplification of local injury via the production of type 1 IFN; injury to the parotid glands, lungs, and kidneys is seen; ...
However, in the case of Sjogren's syndrome your immune system attacks the glands that make tears and saliva. This prevents the glands from working properly and causes dryness of the mouth, eyes or other tissues. The condition may progress slowly, so the typical symptoms of dry eyes and mouth may take years to show.
This condition is frequently associated with other autoimmune disorders including rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Sjogren syndrome is managed by replacing moisture at affected glandular sites and diminishing the autoimmune response locally as well as systemically.
Avoiding foods that tend to exacerbate symptoms including alcohol, caffeine, acidic foods, and spicy foods.
Along with symptoms of extensive dryness, other serious complications include profound fatigue, chronic pain, major organ involvement, neuropathies, and lymphomas. As a systemic disease, affecting the entire body, symptoms may remain steady or worsen overtime.
While some people experience mild discomfort, others suffer debilitating symptoms that greatly impair their ability to function. Early diagnosis and proper treatment can prevent serious complications and greatly improve quality of life.
So it's common for people that have Sjogren's to have frequent infections like colds or bronchitis or sinus infections. Sometimes, they get yeast infections in their mouth, which is called thrush or they get vaginal yeast infections.
According to this definition, patients with SS have lower Health-related Quality of Life (HRQoL) than the general or healthy population, specifically physical and mental functioning components of HRQoL are reduced [9].
Not everyone with Sjögren's has the same risk. Symptoms and factors that raise the likelihood of developing NHL include: Enlarged salivary glands, especially if they stay swollen for months or years. Persistently swollen lymph nodes (glands) in the neck, armpit or groin.
We divided SS patients into three stages: stage I is glandular SS, stage II is extraglandular SS, and stage III is extraglandular SS with lymphoid malignancy.
While many patients experience dry eyes, dry mouth, fatigue and joint pain, Sjögren's can also cause dysfunction of organs such as the kidneys, gastrointestinal system, blood vessels, lungs, liver, pancreas, and the central nervous system. Patients also have a higher chance of developing lymphoma.
Sjogren's syndrome is a chronic autoimmune disorder in which the body's own immune system attacks the glands that produce tears and saliva. Foods that help are omega-3 fatty acids, organic meat, whole fruits and vegetables. Bad foods include trans fat, high glycemic, red meat, dairy, and artificial sweeteners.
People with two or fewer of these signs and symptoms have a 3.8 percent chance of developing the condition. Those with three to six risk factors have a 39.9 percent chance of developing lymphoma. People with all seven risk factors have nearly a 100 percent chance of being diagnosed with lymphoma at some point.
Hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil), a drug designed to treat malaria, is often helpful in treating Sjogren's syndrome. Drugs that suppress the immune system, such as methotrexate (Trexall), also might be prescribed.
In multivariate analysis adjusted by age groups, gender and the comorbidities, the HR of developing dementia was 1.246 (95% CI 1.123–1.384) times greater in the pSS group than in the non‐pSS group. This result suggested that pSS was an independent risk factor for the development of dementia.
Falk: What kinds of factors can make Sjogren's worse? What is the effect, for example, of stress? Jonas: Well, like all autoimmune diseases, patients who feel stressed or are under unusual stress will often have exacerbation of their symptoms. Learning to manage that stress in your life is very important.
It may include forgetfulness, spaciness, confusion, decreased ability to pay attention, an inability to focus, and difficulty in processing information.
Patients with pSS have an increased risk of newly diagnosed depressive and/or anxiety disorders and sleep disorders that may impair their quality of life [4,13,14].