What is Sjogren's Syndrome?
Sjogren's syndrome is a chronic autoimmune
rheumatic disorder in which the body attacks
its own moisture producing (exocrine) glands
and causes the characteristic symptoms of dry
eyes, dry mouth and dryness of other body parts.
Inflammation may spread and sometimes cause fatigue,
arthritis, joint or muscle pain, or involvement
of the internal organs including the lungs, kidneys
or nervous system.
Sjogren's may affect up to three to four
million people in this country -- 90 percent
of whom are female. Thus, Sjogren's syndrome
constitutes
a major women's health problem that is still
largely ignored by the medical community.
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