Marisa Wexler, MS,  senior science writer—

Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS), a procedure using a hand-held device to deliver electrical pulses to a nerve in the neck, eased fatigue for people with Sjögren’s syndrome in a small clinical trial. “Our data support further investigation into the role of [VNS] as a treatment for fatigue in patients with…

Sjögren’s syndrome is associated with a significantly increased risk of miscarriage and other adverse outcomes during pregnancy, a recent study reports. The study, “A meta-analysis of the effect of Sjögren’s syndrome on adverse pregnancy outcomes,” was published in the journal Clinics. Sjögren’s syndrome mainly affects…

Self-targeting antibodies typically associated with a scarring disease called scleroderma are commonly found in people with Sjögren’s syndrome and may be useful in a diagnostic workup of those who have unexplained dryness of the eyes and mouth. That’s according to a study published in Seminars in Arthritis and Rheumatism…

Steroid injections into the spine — similar to the epidural injections often given during childbirth — were effective in controlling pain as a result of nerve damage in a 32-year-old woman with Sjögren’s syndrome, according to a case report. The report, “Lumbar interlaminar epidural steroid injections…

No connection is evident between exposure to the dental amalgam used to fill cavities and the risk of developing Sjögren’s syndrome,  a study by researchers in Taiwan reported. The study, “Analysis of dental amalgam fillings on primary Sjögren’s syndrome,” was published in Medicine.  Dental amalgam is…

Telitacicept (RC18), an experimental therapy being developed by RemeGen, significantly eased disease activity in people with primary Sjögren’s syndrome in a Phase 2 clinical trial, the company announced. “We are very excited to see the positive results from the Phase II clinical trial of telitacicept,” Jianmin Fang,…

Combining the anti-inflammatory medicines hydrocortisone and ciclosporin A could help ease eye symptoms in people with Sjögren’s syndrome, according to a new study. The study, “Efficacy of Topical Hydrocortisone in Combination with Topical Ciclosporin A for the Treatment of Dry Eye Disease in Patients with Sjögren…

A clinical trial at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas is currently recruiting people with autoimmune diseases, particularly Sjögren’s syndrome, who also have postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS). The study, supported by a $150,000 joint grant from the Sjögren’s Foundation and Dysautonomia International, is…

Note: This story was updated Dec. 21, 2021, to note that Sjögren’s syndrome is not a rare disease, being estimated to affect 1-4 million people in the United States. While the vast majority of people with Sjögren’s syndrome are satisfied with their healthcare provider and medication, more than one…

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), traditionally found in the bone marrow of adults, may help treat Sjögren’s syndrome by improving saliva production and decreasing inflammation, but the underlying processes of these cells need to be studied further, according to a research review. The paper, “Treatment of Sjögren’s…