Sjögren's syndrome is more than just dry eyes and dry mouth

Sjögren's syndrome is a chronic autoimmune disease that mainly invades the exocrine glands such as the tear glands and salivary glands. It is also called autoimmune exocrine gland disease. Sjögren's syndrome is not as simple as dry mouth and dry eyes. If the disease cannot be controlled, it will bring a series of complications, which can often affect multiple systems of the body. The more common ones are the following:

1. Blood system

Sjögren's syndrome can cause a decrease in leukocytosis, and the patient will feel very tired and susceptible to infection. It can also cause anemia, dizziness, and pale complexion. It can reduce platelets, causing bleeding all over the skin and prone to purpura. Severe platelet counts below 20,000 can cause mucous membrane bleeding, such as nosebleeds, and even internal bleeding and intracranial bleeding. It may also cause lymphoma.

2. Lungs

It can also affect the lungs, causing interstitial pneumonia or interstitial pulmonary fibrosis, which can lead to shortness of breath and coughing, usually without or with very little sputum, and wheezing after activity. In severe cases, the lungs will gradually harden and respiratory failure will occur. If the condition is not effectively controlled, it can also be a fatal complication.

3. Urinary system

It also affects the urinary system, especially the kidneys, causing renal interstitial lesions, mainly affecting the renal tubules. Damage to the renal tubules can cause electrolyte disorders in the body, resulting in hypokalemia and acidosis. If not effectively controlled, renal function will gradually be lost, causing renal insufficiency, and severe cases will also turn into uremia.

4. Nervous system

It may also affect the nervous system, causing encephalopathy, epilepsy, coma, cerebrovascular accident, etc.

5. Bones

It may also affect the joints, which may manifest as joint pain all over the body, mainly in small joints, and morning stiffness.

6. Others

Sjögren's syndrome often has high levels of immunoglobulin in the blood, which causes blood viscosity, resulting in hyperviscosity syndrome, and ischemic symptoms, which may cause angina, dizziness, and cerebral ischemia. All of these can be fatal.