Sjogren's Syndrome

Sjogren's syndrome (SS) is a systemic autoimmune disorder characterized by clinical features of severe dry eyes and dry mouth (sicca symptoms) as a result of lymphocytic infiltration of the salivary and lacrimal glands. The patients have clinical and laboratory manifestations of a systemic autoimmune disorder. Vascular involvement in SS takes several forms: (1) inflammatory disease of the blood vessels, including ocular surface, oral surface, skin, lung, heart, kidney and nervous system; (2) noninflammatory disease of blood vessels (Raynaud's phenomena); (3) increased frequency of venous thrombosis as part of the spectrum of anticardiolipin syndrome; and (4) autonomic neuropathy in which local inflammatory response alters vascular permeability and tone.