Sjögren syndrome

Sjögren syndrome is a slowly progressive, systemic inflammatory autoimmune disease affecting primarily the exocrine glands. Lymphocytic infiltrates replace functional epithelium, leading to oral and ocular dryness. Characteristic autoantibodies (e.g., anti-Ro/SS-A and/or anti-La/SS-B) are produced. The disorder can occur alone (it is then known as “primary SS”) or in association with another autoimmune disease (it is then known as “secondary SS”).