Sometimes considered a rare disease, most researchers believe that Sjörgen’s disease, also known as Sjörgen’s syndrome, is more common throughout the population than originally believed. As this disease can mimic many others, it is often very difficult to diagnose or misdiagnosed.
The Symptoms
The symptoms of Sjörgen’s disease are different for various individuals, which is one of the difficulties in diagnosis. Most people experience dryness of the salivary and tear glands, but there may also be extreme fatigue, chronic pain, lymphomas, and involvement of different body organs and systems. How slowly or rapidly the symptoms develop or if they remain mild is also variable between individuals.
About half of all patients diagnosed with Sjörgen’s disease also have another autoimmune disease. Lupus, Rheumatoid Arthritis, and Scleroderma are the three most often found with Sjörgen’s. These conditions have similar symptoms and can mask or confuse the symptoms associated with Sjörgen’s. The syndrome can also mimic multiple sclerosis, fibromyalgia, and chronic fatigue syndrome.
The majority of people, or nine out of ten diagnosed with Sjörgen’s, are women. With greater awareness of Sjörgen’s syndrome, the typical time for diagnosis has decreased from six years to about 2.8 years, and there is an increasing awareness of how this syndrome can impact those under 18.
Diagnosis
With the various symptoms, it is not uncommon for people to have a delayed diagnosis. Often the first symptoms, the dry eyes and mouth, are detected by dentists and eye care professionals, while the medical issues, such as fatigue and joint pain, may be treated by a PCP.
There are blood tests that can be used to test for the presence of the antibodies associated with Sjörgen’s. Trinity Biotech is a leading international company offering specialized autoimmunity testing and diagnostics. These tests allow doctors to recognize the presence of Sjörgen’s syndrome and treat the patient using the best holistic practices to address Sjörgen’s and any other associated autoimmune disease.
