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 Image by bobrus All medical conditions have a language all their own, and Sjogren's syndrome is no exception. When I was first diagnosed, I spent a great deal of time reading everything I could about autoimmune disease. Fully half of that time was spent learning the meanings of the words used in that information. For those just beginning the process of learning about Sjogren's syndrome, here's a brief definition list taken fromThe New Sjogren's Syndrome Handbook edited by Daniel J. Wallace, M.D., Oxford University Press, 2005. (Non-indented comments mine.) An understanding of autoimmunity is vital to understanding the basics of Sjogren's syndrome. This very complex relationship between specific blood cells and tissues can cause major disruption in the body. You can read more about autoimmunity on the National Institutes of Health website,here. Healthy B cells will not attack healthy body tissues. Autoimmune B cells mistakenly identify body tissue as an invader, and will attempt to destroy these tissues. A classic symptom of Sjogren's syndrome is dryness of the eyes, which may inflame and irritate the cornea. Dry eye is also referred to as sicca syndrome, or keratoconjunctivitis sicca. These glands are also commonly the target of autoimmune cells. An exocrine gland which is involved in Sjogren's syndrome is the saliva gland, resulting in reduced or absent saliva production. The resulting dry mouth symptom is a hallmark for Sjogren's syndrome. There are three pairs of major salivary glands: the parotids, located in front of the ear, the sublingual glands, located under the tongue, and the submandibular glands, located under the lower jaw. Decreased or absent tear formation is also a defining symptom of Sjogren's. Punctal closure can be effected by several measures. Silicone plugs may be used, or a surgical procedure to close the puncta. Examples of these antibodies are anti-SSA (anti-Ro), or anti-SSB (anti-La). There are numerous good sources of information regarding Sjogren's and other autoimmune diseases. Among them are theNational Institutes of Health, theSjogren's Syndrome Foundation, and theArthritis Foundation. |
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