Sjogrens Syndrome

Condition causing dryness to various parts of the body and that leads to other symptoms.

Diagnosis Tests

Example of blood test results include:

• Red blood cell count (RBC): Long term inflammation can cause a low red blood cell count.
• White blood cell count (WBC): An elevated white blood cell count suggests the possibility of an active infection. Patients taking corticosteroids (for inflammation) may have an elevated WBC due to the medication.
• Haemoglobin and haematocrit: Low haemoglobin and haematocrit may be indicative of anaemia caused by long term diseases or possible bleeding caused by medications (i.e. Non steroidal anti-inflammatory medications, corticosteroids).
• Platelet count: The platelet count is often high in arthritis patients, while some potent/strong arthritis medications can cause platelets to be low.

Protein and Antibody Tests

• Antinuclear antibodies (ANA): Antinuclear antibodies (ANA) are abnormal autoantibodies (immunoglobulins against nuclear components of the human cell). Moderate to high antinuclear antibody levels are suggestive of autoimmune disease. Positive antinuclear antibody tests are seen in 40% to 70% of patients with Sjögren’s syndrome.
• C-reactive protein (CRP): C-reactive protein is produced by the liver following tissue injury or inflammation. Plasma levels of CRP increase quickly following periods of acute inflammation or infection, making this test a more accurate indicator of disease activity than the sedimentation rate, which changes more gradually.
• HLA tissue typing: Human leukocyte antigens (HLA) are proteins on the surface of cells. Specific HLA proteins are genetic markers for some of the rheumatic diseases.
• Erythrocyte sedimentation rate:- the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) is a nonspecific indicator of the presence of inflammation.
• Uric acid:  High levels of uric acid in the blood (known as hyperuricemia) can cause crystals to form which are deposited in the joints and tissues (gout).
• Please follow the following link to help to diagnose this condition  2010 ACR/EULAR classification criteria

Others:

• Use antinuclear antibody (ANA) as a screening antibody when there is clinical suspicion of a connective tissue disease
• Measure extractable nuclear antigen (ENA) even if ANA is negative when there is a high index of suspicion of Sjögren’s syndrome
• Ultrasound scanning (USS) of the salivary glands can provide useful additional information to support either the presence, or lack, of evidence for Sjögren’s syndrome
• Consider a minor labial salivary gland biopsy to aid diagnosis in those with clinically suspected Sjögren’s syndrome when the diagnosis cannot be made by clinical and serological features alone.