Sjogren’s syndrome is an autoimmune disease that does not permit the glands in the body to produce sufficient moisture, which results in severe dryness throughout your body, especially in the eyes and mouth. Sjogren’s syndrome occurs when white blood cells infiltrate saliva glands, tear glands, and other exocrine tissues, causing the production of tears and saliva to decrease in the body. This causes dryness in the mouth, eyes, skin, nose, upper respiratory tract, and vagina. Treatment focuses on relieving symptoms; if treated in a timely manner, complications are less likely to develop. In this article, we’ll explore the different forms of Sjogren's syndrome treatment.
Treatment of Sjogren's Syndrome
Sjogren's syndrome treatment aims to lubricate the affected areas and prevent the onset of complications. The complications related to Sjogren’s syndrome can be over-counter using eyedrops and sipping water more frequently. However, many people need medications and may use surgical procedures to overcome the condition.
Based on your symptoms, a doctor may suggest different medications. These medicines aim to:
- Decrease eye inflammation: To treat the eye inflammation, a doctor may prescribe eyedrops such as cyclosporine or lifitegrast to overcome dryness.
- Increase production of saliva: Doctors may use certain drugs like pilocarpine and cevimeline to boost the production of saliva and tears. Some saliva substitutes and mouth-coating gels in the form of sprays, pre-treated swabs, and liquids are also available in the market to treat the condition of dryness of the mouth.
- Artificial tears: The use of artificial tears, which are over-the-counter medicines, can help lubricate the eyes. The medicines are cyclosporine ophthalmic emulsion and hydroxypropyl cellulose pellets.
- Other drugs: The drug named hydroxychloroquine that is used to treat malaria is often useful in treating Sjogren's syndrome by suppressing the immune system.
Additionally, a doctor may also prescribe forms of treatment such as:
- Moisture chamber spectacles: Use of special glasses can help you keep out of irritants and help retain moisture.
- Hormone therapy: Some people need hormone therapy to treat vaginal dryness. The hormone used to treat this condition is supplemental estrogen
- Surgery: The doctor may suggest surgery in severe cases to treat the condition. The ophthalmologist may seal the tear ducts from your eyes that drain tears to help relieve your dry eyes. They may insert collagen or silicone plugs into the ducts to keep your natural tears in your eyes for longer.
- Autologous eye serum: Autologous eye serum can be made from the person’s blood serum to treat eye dryness where other options are not working to treat the condition.