Lymphocytic Infiltration of Exocrine Glands
Placeholder: autoimmune cells target lacrimal and salivary tissue.
- ≥1: Focus score threshold (Placeholder biopsy criterion)
- CD4+ T: Main cell type (Placeholder infiltrate driver)
- Anti-Ro/SSA: Autoantibodies (Placeholder marker)
- ~0.1-0.7%: Prevalence (Placeholder population rate)
Focal lymphocytic sialadenitis
Placeholder: periductal lymphocyte foci accumulate over time.
Lacrimal Gland Secretion Decline
Placeholder: reduced tear output damages the ocular surface.
- <5mm/5min: Schirmer test (Placeholder diagnostic cutoff)
- Elevated: Tear osmolarity (Placeholder marker)
- Increased: Ocular staining (Placeholder finding)
- Xerophthalmia: Symptom (Placeholder term)
Acinar cell loss and tear film instability
Placeholder: acinar atrophy lowers aqueous tear secretion.
Salivary Gland Secretion Decline
Placeholder: reduced saliva flow impairs oral function.
- <0.1mL/min: Unstim. flow rate (Placeholder diagnostic cutoff)
- Xerostomia: Symptom (Placeholder term)
- Caries up: Dental risk (Placeholder complication)
- Sialectasis: Imaging sign (Placeholder finding)
Ductal and acinar dysfunction
Placeholder: salivary acini shrink under sustained attack.
Systemic and Extraglandular Manifestations
Placeholder: disease can extend beyond glands over time.
- Common: Fatigue (Placeholder symptom)
- ~50%: Arthralgia (Placeholder frequency)
- ~5-10x: Lymphoma risk (Placeholder relative risk)
- Lung/kidney: Organ involvement (Placeholder sites)
Beyond the glands
Placeholder: chronic inflammation affects multiple organ systems.
Placeholder: monitor for lymphoma warning signs over time.
Symptomatic and Immunomodulatory Management
Placeholder: therapy targets symptoms and immune activity.
- First-line: Artificial tears (Placeholder therapy)
- Pilocarpine: Secretagogues (Placeholder drug class)
- Hydroxychloroquine: Immunomodulation (Placeholder agent)
- Regular: Monitoring (Placeholder follow-up)
Multimodal supportive care
Placeholder: combine lubrication, stimulation, and immune therapy.