Sjögren’s syndrome is a systemic disease in which the defining clinical features, dryness of the eyes and mouth, arise from an autoimmune process affecting the lacrimal and salivary glands. It may occur either alone or in the context of another autoimmune disease, such as rheumatoid arthritis or systemic lupus erythematosus. Sjögren’s syndrome is one of the most prevalent systemic rheumatic diseases with a unique predilection for post-menopausal women. The disease may affect the nervous system, lungs, and kidneys in addition to the exocrine glands. Chronic fatigue, joint pain, and neuropathic pain are significant sources of disability. Late complications may include blindness, dental destruction, oral candidiasis, and non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
