Sjogren’s Syndrome is an autoimmune disease that results in dryness of the eyes and mouth. The dryness is brought about by antibodies that attack the tissues and glands of the body, particularly those of the eyes and mouth which decreases the amount of fluid that they secrete.
There are two types of Sjogren’s Syndrome referred to as primary Sjogren’s Syndrome and secondary Sjogren’s Syndrome. The primary syndrome is not associated with any other illnesses, whereas the secondary syndrome is attributed to be a co-disorder of various connective tissue diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and scleroderma.
The Causes Of Sjogren’s Syndrome
While it is still unclear exactly what causes Sjogren’s Syndrome, it is believed to be genetic. It is also more prevalent among people with other autoimmune illnesses like those mentioned above as well as thyroid disease and juvenile diabetes. Interestingly, 90 percent of those affected by Sjogren’s Syndrome are women.