Sjogren's syndrome

The Sjogren's syndrome is an autoimmune disease in which the body's defenses are directed against the body's own tissue and cause inflammation. It is one of the inflammatory rheumatic diseases. The tear and salivary glands are primarily affected, but the infections can also spread to muscles and joints.

What is Sjogren's Syndrome?

The Sjogren's syndrome is an autoimmune system disorder characterized by chronic inflammation. In the case of an autoimmune disease, the body's defense system is no longer directed against harmful external intruders, such as bacteria or viruses, but against the body's own tissue.

Sjogren's syndrome is one of the inflammatory rheumatic diseases and belongs to the group of collagenoses. There are two forms of Sjogren's syndrome. If only the lacrimal and salivary glands are affected by infections, one speaks of primary Sjogren's syndrome.

If the symptoms accompany other inflammation of the connective tissue, such as rheumatoid arthritis or lupus erythematosus, this is referred to as secondary Sjogren's syndrome. Women are more often affected by Sjogren's syndrome than men. The disease is one of the most common inflammatory diseases.

causes

The causes for that Sjogren's syndrome are not clearly explored. On the one hand it is assumed that the predisposition to the disease is inherited, on the other hand environmental factors or hormonal disorders are considered possible triggers.

Other conceivable causes are drugs, viral infections or particular stresses on the body, such as pregnancy. It is believed that these processes cause the body to be programmed incorrectly in a certain way and to form antibodies that attack the body's own tissue.

Another explanation is based on the assumption that in Sjögren's syndrome the immune system loses the ability to distinguish foreign cells from the body's own. This ability is called immune tolerance. The reason for the loss of this immune tolerance is not yet known.

Symptoms, ailments & signs

Patients with Sjogren's syndrome mainly suffer from dry mucous membranes. Dry eyes are therefore one of the main symptoms of the disease. Because of the dryness, those affected have the feeling that they have a foreign object in their eye. The eyes are itchy, red and painful. But not only the eyes, but also the mouth shows a pronounced dryness.

The production of saliva is severely limited, so that patients have to drink more while eating. This is the only way they can swallow the chewed food. Due to the dry mouth, you will also feel a constant feeling of thirst. In addition to the salivary and lacrimal glands, other body glands can also be affected. Some patients suffer from vaginal dryness.

The result is a feeling of dryness, burning and itching as well as discomfort during sexual intercourse. The Sjogren's syndrome can also make itself felt through unspecific general symptoms. Those affected are constantly exhausted and tired. One speaks here of a fatique.

You have trouble concentrating, and you have pain in your joints and muscles. Digestive problems can also occur. Another symptom of Sjogren's syndrome is Raynaud's phenomenon, also called Raynaud's disease. These are circulatory disorders of the fingers that are associated with numbness and / or pain.

Diagnosis & course

At the Sjogren's syndrome two types of symptoms are distinguished. If the immune system is directed only against the salivary and lacrimal glands, then one speaks of glandular symptoms (affecting the glands). This is the case with primary Sjogren's syndrome.

If the defense also attacks other types of tissue, i.e. if the secondary Sjogren's syndrome is present, the symptoms are called extraglandular (lying outside the glands). The glandular complaints show up mainly in a dry mouth and dry eyes, what doctors call sicca syndrome (sicca = dry). Other mucous membranes such as the throat, nose or vagina can also be affected by the dryness. The extra-landular symptoms are circulatory disorders with the development of red spots on the skin, inflammation of the joints and fatigue.

The symptoms usually only develop after the age of 40, but since the malfunction of the immune system develops only slowly, it is assumed that the disease begins as early as after the age of 20 or 30. But the symptoms only become noticeable and visible later. The first suspicion of Sjogren's symptom arises from the typical symptoms. Blood tests are carried out to make a reliable diagnosis. If Sjogren's syndrome is present, certain antibodies, rheumatoid and inflammatory factors can be detected in the blood.

Complications

Sjogren's syndrome causes many different ailments. First and foremost, those affected suffer from very dry eyes. Since the symptoms are not particularly characteristic and do not point directly to the disease, there is usually no early diagnosis and treatment. Those affected continue to suffer from dry mouth and very pronounced fatigue.

Fatigue and a general feeling of illness can also occur as a result of illness and have a very negative effect on the patient's quality of life. However, the disease also affects the muscles and joints, causing inflammation and severe pain. If the pain also occurs at night, it can lead to sleep problems and irritability or depression in the patient.

Restrictions in movement and thus in everyday life can also occur due to Sjögren's syndrome. A causal treatment of the syndrome is unfortunately not possible. However, the symptoms can be limited with the help of medication and therapies. There are no particular complications. Unfortunately, it cannot be universally predicted whether the disease will lead to a reduced life expectancy.

When should you go to the doctor?

Since Sjogren's syndrome is a genetic disease, it must always be treated by a doctor. If the person concerned wishes to have children, genetic testing and counseling can also be carried out in order to prevent recurrence in the descendants. Since Sjogren's syndrome can lead to serious symptoms and complications, a doctor should always be consulted if the symptoms suggest this syndrome.

A doctor should be consulted with this syndrome if dry and reddened eyes occur. In many cases, those affected have the permanent feeling that they have a foreign object in their eye. Persistent itching in the eyes can also indicate this disease. In women, Sjögren's syndrome can manifest itself as a dry vagina; a doctor should also be consulted if this complaint occurs. Digestive problems or circulatory disorders are also indicators of Sjogren's syndrome. A general practitioner can be seen if the syndrome is suspected. Further treatment is then usually carried out by a specialist.

Treatment & Therapy

Treatment of the Sjogren's syndrome is aimed at relieving the discomfort as there is still no curative therapy for autoimmune diseases. You just try to suppress the immune system to prevent further attacks on your body. This is done with the help of medications such as cortisone.

Against the dryness in the eyes, ointments or drops are prescribed. There are special mouth rinses or gels for dry oral mucosa. You can also stimulate saliva production by sucking candy and take small sips of water over the course of the day in order to moisten the mucous membranes. In the case of particularly pronounced symptoms, drugs are used that stimulate the production of tears and saliva.

In addition, careful oral hygiene is necessary, as there is an increased risk of tooth decay in Sjögren's syndrome. If the secondary Sjogren's syndrome is present, the underlying disease and the inflammatory processes in the joints are also treated. This is where pain reliever and anti-inflammatory drugs are used. Overall, the treatment of Sjögren's syndrome usually requires the use of several specialists such as dentists, rheumatologists, ophthalmologists, gynecologists and ear, nose and throat specialists.

prevention

A prevention against that Sjogren's syndrome is not possible, especially since the exact causes are not yet known. But you can strengthen the immune system through a healthy lifestyle with sufficient exercise and a balanced diet.

Aftercare

Since it is a genetic disease, it usually cannot be completely cured. Therefore, at the first symptoms of the disease, sufferers should see a doctor and initiate treatment to prevent further symptoms and complications. Independent healing cannot take place.

If you want to have children, genetic testing and counseling should definitely take place in order to prevent the syndrome from recurring in the descendants. Most of those affected are dependent on various surgical interventions, which can alleviate and limit the symptoms.

The person affected should definitely rest after such an operation and take care of their body. Physical exertion or stressful activities should be avoided in order not to put unnecessary strain on the body. Furthermore, the help and support of your own family is usually very useful.

This often prevents and limits the development of depression and other psychological disorders. In some cases, Sjogren's syndrome can also reduce the life expectancy of those affected. However, the further course of this disease is strongly dependent on the time of diagnosis, so that a general course cannot be given.

You can do that yourself

The course of Sjogren's syndrome is characterized by chronic inflammation. In everyday life, lifestyle should be optimized to support the immune system.

The body's own defense system can be mobilized through a balanced diet rich in vitamins. Refraining from consuming harmful substances such as alcohol and nicotine is helpful in coping with the disease. In addition, obesity should be avoided and sufficient exercise is beneficial to health. The organism must be protected from further infections. Protective measures should therefore be taken in good time and the risk of infection should be minimized, particularly in times of weather or seasonal changes.

Since sexual contact with the partner can cause inconvenience, he should be informed in good time about the disease and the existing complaints. This avoids unpleasant situations in everyday life and prevents misunderstandings.

If the person concerned needs emotional support in coping with the disease, psychotherapeutic treatment can help. In addition, the mental strength must be strengthened, as emotional problems inevitably spread to the entire organism. Disturbances of the blood circulation often occur. For this reason, you should refrain from adopting a rigid posture and compensating movements should be carried out at the first sensory disorders on the skin.