[Sjögren's syndrome]

Abstract

Sjögren's syndrome is a frequent autoimmune disease and is associated with a lymphocytic infiltration of the lachrymal and salivary glands and with sicca symptoms. Its diagnostic procedures consist of the quantification of tear and saliva production, identification of extraglandular manifestations, measurement of antibodies against SS-A and SS-B and of salivary gland biopsies. Dry eyes and dry mouth are treated only symptomatically, whereas extraglandular manifestations are treated similar to systemic lupus erythematosus.