Dry mouth and Sjögren's syndrome
Diagnosing Sjögren’s syndrome
According to the Sjögren’s Syndrome Foundation, it takes an average of six and a half years after symptoms begin to get diagnosed with Sjögren’s syndrome.
Why is Sjögren’s syndrome so hard to diagnose? One reason is that the symptoms of Sjögren’s syndrome are similar to those of other diseases. Another is that many people have difficulty talking with their doctors about their dry-mouth symptoms.
If you are concerned about your dry-mouth symptoms, you may want to be open and honest with your doctor about how you are feeling. This will give you the best chance at getting a proper diagnosis. To get the conversation started you can create a customized discussion guide with questions for your doctor.
Symptoms of Sjögren’s syndrome can vary from person to person
Dry mouth is one of the hallmark symptoms of Sjögren’s syndrome, but symptoms can vary from person to person.
Diagnosis of Sjögren’s syndrome depends on a combination of factors, including:
- Clinical examinations
- Salivary tests
- Diagnostic blood tests
Physical symptoms may be indicators of Sjögren's syndrome, but further examination is required since these symptoms can be caused by other conditions. Other diagnostic tests for Sjögren's syndrome may be performed, such as salivary gland biopsies.
To further test for Sjögren's syndrome, healthcare providers look for certain antibodies that are typical of the disease. Special blood tests may include the anti-nuclear antibodies (ANA), anti-Sjögren's syndrome A (SSA) and B (SSB) antibody tests, or erythrocyte sedimentation rate which measures inflammation.
EVOXAC® is indicated to treat symptoms of dry mouth in patients with Sjögren's syndrome. EVOXAC is not indicated to treat or prevent Sjögren's syndrome or other symptoms of Sjögren's syndrome.
Sjögren’s syndrome treatment
Some photos in this site depict models, not actual patients or healthcare professionals.
This information is intended for U.S. residents only.
©2011 Daiichi Sankyo, Inc.
