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What Causes Sjogren's Syndrome?

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Posted on Tue, 14 Apr 2015
Question: What is ANAw/reflex I had test results come back stating: anti-nuclear antibody test is positive and suggestive of Sjogren's syndrome. What is this and what can I do?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis (2 hours later)
Brief Answer:
This is an autoimmune disease

Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Sjogren's syndrome causes dryness of mucosal surfaces, mostly the eyes and the mouth. This may cause a difficulty in eating dry food and a foreign body sensation in the eyes. The ANA test is not enough to establish the diagnosis. The Shirmer's test can be employed and a biopsy from the inner side of the lip can also be used.

What you can do until you visit your doctor is to avoid dryness in your eyes and mouth. You can use simple moistening eye drops for that. There are drugs for mouth dryness but they have to be prescribed by your doctor. Water should suffice until you get to your doctor.

If you had no symptoms of dryness then do not consider the diagnosis certain.

I hope I've helped!
Contact me again, if you'd like more information.

Kind Regards!
Note: For further information on diet changes to reduce allergy symptoms or to boost your immunity, Ask here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis

Internal Medicine Specialist

Practicing since :1999

Answered : 3815 Questions

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What Causes Sjogren's Syndrome?

Brief Answer: This is an autoimmune disease Detailed Answer: Hello, Sjogren's syndrome causes dryness of mucosal surfaces, mostly the eyes and the mouth. This may cause a difficulty in eating dry food and a foreign body sensation in the eyes. The ANA test is not enough to establish the diagnosis. The Shirmer's test can be employed and a biopsy from the inner side of the lip can also be used. What you can do until you visit your doctor is to avoid dryness in your eyes and mouth. You can use simple moistening eye drops for that. There are drugs for mouth dryness but they have to be prescribed by your doctor. Water should suffice until you get to your doctor. If you had no symptoms of dryness then do not consider the diagnosis certain. I hope I've helped! Contact me again, if you'd like more information. Kind Regards!