Sjögren's Disease

The American College of Rheumatology and the European League Against Rheumatism have published an international set of classification criteria for primary Sjögren's syndrome.

Saying the Guidelines fill a “significant clinical void,” the organization celebrated awareness of the rheumatic condition with a series of stringently approved recommendations for its treatment.

Clinicians should pay more attention to neurological signs in patients with high-activity primary Sjogren’s Syndrome or those with prior neurological involvements.

B-cells that are active in lupus may also play a role in Sjögren’s syndrome. A new study finds that the same B-cell depleter drug, belimumab (Benlysta) approved for lupus, may also benefit Sjögren’s patients.

ACR2013: Highly specific and sensitive for Sjögren's syndrome, ultrasound of the salivary gland can also benefit the accuracy of the new ACR criteria for the disorder.

Sjogren syndrome affects up to 4 million Americans. There is no cure, but the symptoms-mainly dry eyes and dry mouth-can be relieved.

Meijer JM, Schonland SO, Palladini G, et al, University of Groningen, Groningen, theNetherlands, and other centers. Sjogren's syndrome and localized nodular cutaneousamyloidosis: coincidence or a distinct clinical entity? Arthritis Rheum. 2008;58:1992-1999.