Sicca syndrome

Sicca syndrome, also known as Sjögren's syndrome, is a long-term autoimmune disease in which the moisture-producing glands of the body are affected. This results in a reduction of saliva and tears, leading to dryness in the mouth and eyes, a condition known as xerostomia and keratoconjunctivitis sicca respectively.

Symptoms

The primary symptoms of Sicca syndrome are dryness in the mouth and eyes. However, other parts of the body can also be affected, leading to symptoms such as:

• Dry cough
• Fatigue
• Joint pain, swelling, and stiffness
• Swollen salivary glands
• Skin rashes or dry skin
• Vaginal dryness
• Persistent dry cough
• Prolonged fatigue

Causes

Sicca syndrome is an autoimmune disease, which means the body's immune system mistakenly attacks its own cells and tissues. In the case of Sicca syndrome, the immune system primarily targets the glands that produce tears and saliva. However, it can also affect other organs and systems in the body, such as the lungs, liver, and blood vessels.

The exact cause of Sicca syndrome is unknown, but it's believed to involve a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Certain genes appear to increase the risk of developing the disease, and these genes may be triggered by factors such as viral or bacterial infections.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of Sicca syndrome can be challenging, as the symptoms often overlap with those of other conditions. Doctors typically use a combination of methods to diagnose the condition, including:

• Medical history
• Physical examination
• Blood tests
• Eye tests, such as a Schirmer's test to measure tear production
• Imaging tests to examine the salivary glands
• Biopsy of salivary gland tissue

Treatment

There is currently no cure for Sicca syndrome, so treatment focuses on managing symptoms. This can involve:

• Medications to stimulate saliva production
• Eye drops or ointments to help keep the eyes moist
• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to relieve joint pain and swelling
• Immunosuppressive medications for severe cases

See also

• Autoimmune disease
• Rheumatology
• Dry eye syndrome
• Xerostomia

Rheumatologic diseases

Arthritis is often used to refer to any disorder that affects the joints. Rheumatic diseases usually affect joints, tendons, ligaments, bones, and muscles. Rheumatologic diseases usually affect joints, tendons, ligaments, bones, and muscles.

Connective Tissue Diseases

Rheumatology and	Connective Tissue Diseases
Ankylosing spondylitis	Arthritis
Arthritis and Rheumatic diseases	Autoimmune diseases
Autoinflammatory diseases	Behçet’s disease
Bursitis	Giant cell arteritis
Gout	Juvenile arthritis
Knee problems	Lupus
Osteoarthritis	Polymyalgia rheumatica
Psoriatic arthritis	Reactive arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis	Scleroderma
Sjögren’s syndrome	Systemic lupus erythematosus (Lupus)
Tendinitis	Rheumatologic diseases