Can Sjogren's Syndrome be cured or go into remission?

Sjogren's syndrome is an autoimmune disease, characterized by the abnormal production of extra antibodies in the blood that are directed against various tissues of the body. This particular autoimmune illness features inflammation in the glands of the body. Inflammation of the glands that produce tears (lacrimal glands) leads to decreased water production for tears and eye dryness. Inflammation of the glands that produce the saliva in the mouth (salivary glands, including the parotid glands) leads to mouth dryness.

Sjogren's syndrome that involves the gland inflammation (resulting in dryness of the eyes and mouth, etc.), but not associated with a connective tissue disease, is referred to as primary Sjogren's syndrome. Secondary Sjogren's syndrome involves not only gland inflammation, but is associated with a connective tissue disease, such as rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, or scleroderma.


The treatment of patients with Sjogren's syndrome is directed toward the particular areas of the body that are involved and complications, such as infection. There is no cure for Sjogren's syndrome.

Dryness of the eyes can be helped by artificial tears, eye lubricant ointments at night, and minimizing the use of hair dryers. When dryness becomes more significant, the ophthalmologist can plug the tear duct closed so that tears cover the eye longer. Cyclosporin eyedrops (Restasis) are recently approved medicated drops that can reduce the inflammation of the tear glands improving their function. Signs of eye infection (conjunctivitis), such as pus or excessive redness or pain, should be evaluated by the doctor.

The dry mouth can be helped by drinking plenty of fluids, humidifying air, and good dental care to avoid dental decay. The glands can be stimulated to produce saliva by sucking on sugarless lemon drops or glycerin swabs. Additional treatment for the symptom of dry mouth are prescription medications that are saliva stimulants, such as pilocarpine (Salagen) and cevimeline (Evoxac). These medications should be avoided by persons with certain heart diseases, asthma or glaucoma. Artificial saliva preparations can ease many of the problems associated with dry mouth. Many of these types of agents are available as over-the-counter products including toothpaste, gum, and mouthwash (Biotene). Vitamin E oil has been used with some success. Infections of the mouth and teeth should be addressed as early as possible in order to avoid more severe complications. Diligent dental care is very important.

Salt water (saline) nasal sprays can help dryness in the passages of the nose. Vaginal lubricant should be considered for sexual intercourse.

Hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil) has been helpful for some manifestations of Sjogren's syndrome. Serious complications, such as vasculitis, can require immune suppression medications, including cortisone (prednisone and others) and/or azathioprine (Imuran) or cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan).

Infections, which can complicate Sjogren's syndrome, are addressed with appropriate antibiotics. A rare complication of Sjogren's syndrome, cancer of the lymph glands (lymphoma) is treated independently.

All auto immune illnesses can go into a remission period.Thats exactly how they operate 1 day is good next day might be terrible. You do know they have tear duct implants, painless procedure takes 2 minutes and pills that help make saliva and tears you just take 1 in the morning and of course eye drops etc. Alot of filtered water and vitamins dont hurt either Good luck to you.

Sj枚gren's syndrome (SS) is a multisystem disorder that may present to many different specialists including general internal medicine and its subspecialties (especially rheumatology, chest medicine, neurology, hematology, nephrology, psychiatry), surgery and its subspecialties (especially ophthalmology, otolaryngology) and related specialties such as oral medicine. Although it is important that one physician, usually the rheumatologist, assumes overall responsibility for the care of the patient, SS is a paradigm for a condition requiring a team approach to management. Since patients see multiple specialists, treatments often are not coordinated and the therapy for one manifestation may lead to exacerbation of another aspect.
GENERAL PRINCIPLES 鈥?Therapy can be grouped into at least three separate aspects: a) topical therapy of dry eyes and dry mouth; b) treatment of systemic manifestations of SS and recognition of therapies for other conditions that can exacerbate dryness complaints; and c) treatment of fatigue, vague cognitive and pain syndromes that resemble the poorly defined syndrome termed "fibromyalgia." Therapy depends upon the severity of symptoms, which may vary from none to severe, associated with secondary pathology and, often, considerable morbidity.Most patients with SS only require local treatment for sicca symptoms, including the following general measures and information :
1-Avoidance of drugs which may worsen sicca symptoms
2-Avoidance of low humidity atmospheres such as air conditioned stores, centrally heated houses, airplanes, windy locations, and irritants such as dust and cigarette smoke.
3-A painful mouth is different than a dry mouth, as the former may represent the development of oral candidiasis.
4-Irritated eyes that persist despite frequent use of tears may represent a process such as blepharitis rather than simple aqueous tear deficiency.
5-Good oral hygiene including tooth brushing and dental flossing following meals and regularly scheduled dental prophylaxis with application of topical fluorides. Use of topical moisturizers and lozenges and recognition that sugar-free lozenges contain significantly less sugar content than "low sugar" mints.
6-Instruction about particular precautions at the time of surgery to minimize the side effects of xerostomia/xerothalmia and prevent side effects of medications that may have anti-cholinergic side effects.

the treatment of each of the syndrom manifestation is complicated and its better to consult your doctor for its prognosis due to diffrences in prognosis in diffrent stages of the disease. but in summary Treatment of SS is generally symptomatic, with most patients requiring treatment only for dryness. Adequate explanation is essential: many subjects, for example, may not realize that their central heating or air conditioning creates a drying environment or that a windy day is likely to make their eyes dryer. Simple measures such as humidifiers, sips of water, chewing gums, and simple replacement tears will be adequate in the majority of subjects. The rest should be told of the wide range of artificial fluids available and encouraged to try several different formulations.

Treatment of other manifestations of SS has been influenced by our treatment of other connective tissue diseases. The most serious (and fortunately rare) complications such as vasculitis and neurologic disease probably require immunosuppression with drugs such as glucocorticoids and cyclophosphamide, as in systemic lupus erythematosus.

Sjogren鈥檚 syndrome is a chronic, slowly progressive autoimmune disease, which is characterized by lymphocytic (type of white cell) infiltration of the salivary glands of the mouth and the lacrimal glands of the eyes. This is why the primary clinical symptom is dryness of both the mouth and the eyes. The parotid glands and other salivary glands may become enlarged. These symptoms can be present years before the disease is fully manifested or diagnosed. Patients can have difficulty swallowing their food, talking for any length of time, and complain frequently of dry, scratchy eyes. These patients can have other problems involving the lungs, vascular inflammation, kidney problems, and they may even develop malignant lymphoma. This disease can take a relatively benign course or may very aggressive.

Sjogrens remains fundamentally an incurable disease. This makes it imperative for patients with Sjogrens syndrome to do everything possible to build up their body鈥檚 natural defenses. This is why I believe that an aggressive nutritional supplementation program is essential. The best way to build up the body鈥檚 natural immune system, natural antioxidant defense system, and natural repair system is via nutritional supplementation.

Optimal Recommendations
Nutritional Supplement Breakfast Lunch Dinner
Mega Antioxidant (Mega AO) 1 1 1
Chelated Mineral (Multi Mineral) 1 1 1
Active Calcium 2 2
Proflavanol 90 1 1 1
Coquinone 30 1 1
Biomega-3 (an option instead of Optomega) 1 1 1

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