Our Trailblazers are committed partners ready to lead the way, take action and fight for everyday victories. Join us today and help lead the way as a Champion of Yes. Because Sjögren’s can affect the lungs, the doctor may order this test to check for inflammation.Īs a partner, you will help the Arthritis Foundation provide life-changing resources, science, advocacy and community connections for people with arthritis, the nations leading cause of disability. The doctor will measure saliva output, how well salivary glands function and whether there is inflammation. A slit-lamp test checks the surface of the eye (cornea) for dryness-related damage. The Schirmer test is used to determine how well the eyes produce tears. An erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR or sed rate) test may also be done to check for inflammation. Blood tests may also be done to look for signs of inflammation, such as increased levels of immunoglobulin (which signals an immune response) or C-reactive protein (which signals inflammation). Other autoantibody tests include antinuclear antibody (ANA) and rheumatoid factor (RF). Certain blood tests can detect these. The anti-SSA (also called anti-Ro) or anti-SSB (also called anti-La) blood tests are the most specific ones for Sjögren’s syndrome. Some people have specific proteins in their blood called autoantibodies, which are antibodies that react to the body’s own tissues. Several tests help the doctor make a diagnosis. They include: The doctor may recommend an eye examination to be done by an ophthalmologist (eye specialist). Changes in the eyes, mouth and salivary glands.During the physical examination, the doctor will check for: The doctor will ask questions about medical history and discuss symptoms. Estrogen levels in the body drop after menopause.Įarly diagnosis is important to lessen the effect of Sjögrens on the eyes, mouth and other organs and to reduce damage. A major risk factor for developing Sjögren’s syndrome is being a post-menopausal woman. While there isn’t yet a concrete answer as to why Sjögren’s syndrome affects women more often than men, researchers believe the hormone estrogen might play a role. It's also common for relatives of people with Sjögren’s syndrome to develop other types of autoimmune disease such as lupus or hypothyroidism. In fact, about 12 percent of people with it have one or more relatives with the disease. It is believed that the immune system must be activated by some sort of trigger – such as a viral or bacterial infection – that sends the immune system into overdrive.Įvidence also suggests that if a relative has Sjögren’s syndrome, a person has a higher risk for it. While there are certain genes that increase a person’s risk for Sjögren’s syndrome, the genes do not act alone. Researchers think that a combination of environmental and genetic factors determines who develops the disease.
The cause of Sjögren’s syndrome is unknown.
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