Questions and Answers about Sjoegren's Syndrome (Revised)

摘要

Sjoeren's (SHOW-grens) syndrome is an autoimmune disease that is, a disease in which the immune system turns against the body's own cells. Normally, the immune system works to protect us from disease by destroying harmful invading organisms like viruses and bacteria. In the case of Sjoeren's syndrome, disease-fighting cells attack various organs, most notably the glands that produce tears and saliva (the lacrimal and salivary glands). Damage to these glands causes a reduction in both the quantity and quality of their secretions. This results in symptoms that include dry eyes and dry mouth. In technical terms, the form of eye dryness associated with a Sjoeren's syndrome is called keratoconjunctivitis sicca, or KCS, and the symptoms of dry mouth are called xerostomia.