Update on Sjögren's Syndrome: Diagnostics & Therapy

With a prevalence of 1:100 to 1:400, Sj & ouml;gren's syndrome is the most common connective tissue disease, and it mainly affects women. The disease is characterised by a destruction of the exocrine glands, which usually leads to sicca symptoms. Extraglandular manifestations occur in more than 50% of cases. These include fatigue and arthralgia as well as various systemic organ manifestations such as polyneuropathy or interstitial lung disease. Patients with certain risk factors have a five per cent chance of developing lymphoma. The diagnosis is based on the current ACR/EULAR classification criteria, salivary gland sonography and various biomarkers, in particular anti-SSA/Ro antibodies, in conjunction with clinical symptoms. There is currently no approved systemic immunosuppressive therapy. The European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) has published treatment recommendations based on the recommendations for the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus, which vary according to clinical severity and manifestation. Several promising trials of different therapeutic approaches are currently ongoing.