Sjögren’s Syndrome

Sjögren's syndrome is an inflammatory disease that can affect many different parts of the body, but most often affects the tear and saliva glands. Patients with this condition may notice irritation, a gritty feeling, or painful burning in the eyes. Dry mouth or difficulty eating dry foods and swelling of the glands around the face and neck are also common. Roughly 1 to 2 percent of the population has Sjögren's syndrome. This condition can affect people of any age, but symptoms usually appear between the ages of 45 and 55. It affects ten times as many women as men and sometimes develops as a complication of another autoimmune disorder. It is a relatively under diagnosed disease. At the UConn Musculoskeletal Institute we have a large group of Sjögren’s syndrome patients and are one of the larger centers for this condition.