Sjogren’s Syndrome May Affect Internal
Organs
While some patients experience mild discomfort
from their symptoms, others suffer debilitating
symptoms that greatly impair their quality of
life. In about 10 percent of cases, the disease
may spread to the internal organs and cause arthritis,
fatigue or problems of the lungs, kidneys and
central nervous system.
Patients may also experience exocrine gland
dysfunction in other organs, so when other health
problems arise, physicians must determine the
precise cause of a Sjogren's patient’s
dry mouth or dry eyes.
Some conditions that may develop in Sjogren's
patients:
Ear, nose
and throat: |
epistaxis, otitis
media, conduction deafness
|
Gastrointestinal: |
esophageal dysmotility, esophageal webs,
atrophic gastritis, autoimmune pancreatitis, liver
disease
|
Genitourinary: |
vaginitis sicca, interstitial cystitis
|
Hematologic: |
anemia,
leukopenia, lymphopenia, cryoglobulinemia, lymphoma
|
Lung: |
xerotrachea, recurrent bronchitis/pneumonia,
lymphocytic interstitial pneumonitis, pulmonary
fibrosis
|
Neurologic: |
peripheral
neuropathy, cranial neuropathy, central
nervous system involvement
|
Renal: |
interstitial nephritis, hyposthenuria, renal
tubular acidosis
|
Rheumatologic: |
arthralgia, polyarthtitis, myalgia, myositis, Raynaud’s
phenomenon
|
Skin: |
xeroderma, purpura, uticaria, vasculitis
|
|
