Sjögren’s syndrome is a chronic rheumatic disease that affects many organs, especially the glands. Although Sjögren’s syndrome is mostly seen in female patients, it can also be seen in men.
What are the Symptoms of the Disease?
The most important complaints of patients with Sjögren’s Syndrome are dry mouth and dry eyes. Patients describe dry mouth with clear expressions such as I constantly need to drink water, water is constantly at my bedside, or I cannot swallow food without drinking water. The signs of dry eye are the feeling of sand or a foreign body in the eye, burning, stinging sensation.
Apart from the common findings, the disease may present with joint pain, swelling, yellowing, bruising and skin lesions on the hands. In addition to these complaints, life-threatening lung involvement and nervous system involvement may occur.
How is the Diagnosis of the Disease Made?
The diagnosis is usually made too late in patients with Sjögren’s syndrome. Because patients do not complain because they are used to dry mouth and eye dryness. When they have skin or joint symptoms besides these complaints, they often feel the need to consult a doctor. In addition to the appropriate complaints of the patients, it often accompanies positive in the tests we call autoantibodies in the blood test. In some patients, we also perform salivary gland biopsy to confirm the diagnosis.
How is the treatment and follow-up of the disease carried out?
Treatment of Sjögren’s syndrome varies according to the location of the disease. In patients who do not have much involvement, drugs that are also used in the treatment of malaria, known as small-dose cortisone and chloroquine, are preferred. In patients with severe involvement or life-threatening patients, we use drugs called higher cortisone and immunosuppressive.
In addition to drug therapy, protection from the sun, keeping the mouth constantly wet, moisturizing creams to treat dry skin, and a very good mouth and teeth cleaning are other issues to be considered. Because these patients have a high incidence of dental caries due to dry mouth.
