This page was created by a new Sjogren's patient for all other new Sjogren's patients as information and support.
Sjogren's Syndrome (pronounced "show grins") is a chronic inflammatory, auto-immune disorder that affects between 1 and 4 million people in the U.S. In this disease, the organs that normally produce lubricating fluid, the salivary gland in the mouth, the lacrimal glands in the eye, and the cells in the vagina, fail. The result is abnormally dry eyes, mouth, vagina, and also severe dry skin in some cases.
Sjogren's Syndrome can affect people of all ages and races. However, 90% of all cases involve women, usually in middle-age.
This condition can occur in two ways.
1)When Sjogren's is not associated with a rheumatic condition, it is considered a primary condition.
2)When the disease occurs together with a connective tissue disease such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, scleroderma or polymyositis, it is considered a secondary syndrome. This occurs in about half the Sjogren's cases.
