Vitamin

Salivary gland

Autoimmunity

Retinol

Histopathology

Dermatology

Exocrine gland

Secretion

Immunology

Autoantibody

Autoimmune disease

Lymphoma

Internal medicine

Vitamin A deficiency

Medicine

Sjögren syndrome

Disease

Sicca syndrome

Antibody

Xerophthalmia

Pathology

European Journal Of Oral Sciences

Sjögren's syndrome is a lymphoproliferative disease with autoimmune features characterized by mononuclear cell infiltration of exocrine glands, notably the lacrimal and salivary glands. These lymphoid infiltrations lead to dryness of the eyes (keratoconjunctivitis sicca), dryness of the mouth (xerostomia), and, frequently, dryness of other surfaces connected to exocrine glands. Sjögren's syndrome is associated with the production of autoantibodies because B‐cell activation is a consistent immunoregulatory abnormality. The spectrum of the disease extends from an organ‐specific autoimmune disorder to a systemic process and is also associated with an increased risk of B‐cell lymphoma. Current treatments are mainly symptomatic. As a result of the diverse presentation of the syndrome, a major challenge remains to improve diagnosis and therapy. For this purpose an international set of classification criteria for primary Sjögren's syndrome has recently been developed and validated and seems well suited for enrolment in clinical trials. Salivary gland biopsies have been examined and histopathology standards have been developed, to be used in clinical trials and patient stratification. Finally, ultrasonography and saliva meet the need of non‐invasive imaging and sampling methods for discovery and validation of disease biomarkers in Sjögren's syndrome.

Current concepts on Sjögren's syndrome – classification criteria and biomarkers