It’s not exactly clear what causes the disorder, but it probably has a genetic link – though that doesn’t mean Williams’ sister Serena has a greater risk, said Dr. Julius Birnbaum, associate director of the Johns Hopkins Jerome L. Greene Sjögren’s Syndrome Center.
He said viral infections and other factors could play a role.
“Sjogren’s syndrome is emerging as among the most common autoimmune diseases affecting adults,” said Birnbaum. “Two to four million adults may be affected.
He said the body’s strategy for combating infections and tumors “essentially turns into a traitor and starts targeting different organs.” It targets the glands that produce tears in people’s eyes and saliva in their mouths. It also can affect a host of different organs.
It’s hard to diagnose because the dryness isn’t always considered a factor by doctors who are looking for causes of fatigue and joint pain.
Birnbaum said the disease is chronic, but that it’s treatable. The first line of defense is a drug called Plaquenil, which originally was developed as an anti-malarial drug but is now used for Sjogren’s and Lupus. If that is ineffective, there are other drugs that can suppress the immune system.
Doctors will also have to look for hypothyroidism, vitamin D deficiency and other causes of fatigue that often surface in Sjogren’s patients.
“In the absence of other organ complications, Venus can hopefully return to tennis,” Birnbaum said, though he’s not treated the tennis star and is not familiar with the specifics of her case. “There will need to be a lifelong commitment to treatment.”
To read more, go to the Hopkins Sjogren’s Syndrome Center website or this Los Angeles Times story.