The following are the most important diseases or complications that may be contributed to by Sjögren’s syndrome:
Respiratory system (J00-J99).
If the mucosal glands of the upper and lower respiratory tract (respiratory organs) are affected:
- Chronic cough irritation
- Dysphonia (hoarseness)
- Rhinitis sicca (dry nose)
Eyes and eye appendages (H00-H59)
- Keratoconjunctivitis sicca (“dry eyes“) due to lack of wetting of cornea and conjunctiva with tear fluid.
- Ulcus corneae (corneal ulceration)
Mouth, esophagus (esophagus), stomach, and intestines (K00-K67; K90-K93).
- Infections of the oral mucosa
- Caries – increased risk due to lack of salivary secretion.
Neoplasms – tumor diseases (C00-D48)
- Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (malignancies originating in lymphoid tissue) (4-18%).
Ears – mastoid process (H60-H95).
- Sensorineural hearing loss (25%)
Psyche – nervous system (F00-F99; G00-G99)
- Peripheral neuropathy (disease of nerves carrying information between the central nervous system and muscles; 5%).
- CNS involvement (25%)
If the mucosal glands of the genital organs are affected:
- Sexual dysfunction
Pregnancy, childbirth and puerperium (O00-O99)
- During pregnancy, auto-antibodies can pass to the unborn and cause arrhythmias (cardiac arrhythmias).
Symptoms and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified (R00-R99).
- Halitosis (bad breath) – occurs very markedly.
Further
- Early tooth loss
