What is Sjögren’s syndrome, the disorder that causes dry mouth and eyes

All July 23. is celebrated on International Sjögren Syndrome Day (SS), rheumatic disease, autoimmune and chronic, the main clinical symptoms of which are related to the destruction of the exocrine glands: is characterized by dry eye, buccal, nasal and vaginal. Joint and muscle pain and exhaustion are also very common, which can be extreme. Although little known in the world, this pathology mainly affects women.

Ophthalmologist Alexandre aguilar (MN: 62,549), explained at With well-being that this disease of the immune system “generates antibodies against the body itself. These antibodies invade and block the external secretory glands, mainly the salivary and lacrimal glands, producing dry mouth and dry eyes, typical of the syndrome ”.

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Dry mouth brings difficulty swallowing, ulcers, inflammation of the gums and general deterioration of dental health, with loss of parts. In this sense, the specialist underlined: “The inflammation of the parotid glands which may appear swollen and painful. During this time, the dryness of the eyes presents itself with a sensation of a foreign body, grit, burning, burning, blurred vision and colored halos. The dry eye mainly affects the cornea, and can cause it to lose its transparency (the cornea is the windshield of our eyes) and, in this way, change vision. It is also common nasal dryness”.

According to the specialist, the SS it is more common in women than in men, especially after 40 years, and is usually associated with other bodily manifestations such as articular pain, fever and fatigue. Women who suffer from it can also express vaginal dryness.

In this direction, Aguilar said: “It is usually accompanied by changes in the capillaries of the hands Yes pies which are manifested by color changes (blue) when exposed to cold. This phenomenon is called Raynaud. It can also produce liver trouble, with the enlargement of this organ, and to a lesser extent affect the lungs and kidneys ”.

The ophthalmologist, specialist in diseases of the ocular surface and former president of the Argentinian Society of the Ocular Surface, clarified that the Sjogren’s syndrome It can be primary, that is to say without other rheumatological manifestations or associated with them such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, scleroderma and polymyositis, among others.

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“His diagnostic It is performed by detecting dry eyes and mouth, whether or not associated with joint manifestations. They are also carried out Blood tests and is completed by a lip biopsy. For the diagnosis of Dry eye a thorough examination is carried out using a microscope called a slit lamp, which allows the so-called tear the meniscus, that is to say the volume of tears which rises from the lower eyelid towards the cornea and which is distributed throughout the eye with the blink, ”he explained.

In addition, additional studies are being carried out such as the measurement of the breaking time of the movie tear which, under normal conditions, should last more than five seconds. “Another study used is the Schirmer test, which involves placing a filter paper on the edge of the eyelid base that absorbs tears and thus measures its moisture in millimeters. Normal is greater than 10mm. There are also more sophisticated studies that make it possible to assess the movie tear duct in high definition, as well as laboratory tests such as impression cytology Yeah proteinograma lagrimal“, He said.

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In contrast, the diagnosis of dry mouth is symptomatic and is accompanied by a measurement of the volume and saliva flow by xyalometry and xyalometry. “All this is completed by carrying out blood tests to detect whether or not there is autoantibodies Present in the syndrome: Ro or SS-A and La or SS-B. Another marker of autoimmunity is ANF, which tends to be positive in a large number of people with Sjögren syndrome, ”he added.

Meanwhile, the lip biopsy makes it possible to detect the compromise of salivary glands that have been invaded by autoantibodies via an inflammatory cell called lymphocyte. “Treatment is symptomatic, depending on the organ affected, and consists of the use of artificial lubricants for the eyes and mouth, anti-inflammatory drugs for the management of joint manifestations and other drugs for the control of auto-immunity», He concluded.