Patricia Inácio, PhD,  science writer—

Nipocalimab, an experimental antibody-based therapy being developed by Johnson & Johnson, was granted fast track status by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for adults with moderate to severe Sjögren’s disease. Fast track status is given to candidate therapies for serious health conditions with the…

Nearly 80% of women with Sjögren’s disease experience sexual dysfunction, with common symptoms including vaginal dryness, lower sexual satisfaction, and difficulty with arousal, a Chinese study finds. The findings highlight the need of “increased awareness and recognition of sexual health in clinical practice,” the researchers wrote, adding that “policymakers…

Treatment with Evoxac (cevimeline hydrochloride) significantly improved salivary flow and eased symptoms of dry mouth in people with Sjögren’s syndrome, according to a meta-analysis of three clinical trials. These findings suggest that Evoxac, an approved Sjögren’s treatment, is a “promising therapeutic option, particularly for individuals with mild to moderate…

The oral microbiome — the community of bacteria living in the mouth — of people with primary Sjögren’s syndrome (pSS) includes a large number of bacteria linked to inflammation and dental caries, or cavities, as well as bacteria that facilitate the colonization of the oral mucosa by other disease-causing…

Older age, smoking, and a condition called Raynaud’s phenomenon are risk factors for developing interstitial lung disease (ILD) among people with primary Sjögren’s syndrome, according to a recent study. The study, “Interstitial lung disease and associated factors in patients with Sjögren’s syndrome,” was published in the…

The incidence of breast cancer is higher in women with primary Sjögren’s syndrome than the general population, a study from Taiwan indicates.  Diabetes and high levels of anti-SSA autoantibodies were associated with a higher risk of developing breast cancer, according to “…

Almost one-third of patients with primary Sjögren’s syndrome (pSS) tested negative for the disease’s two most common autoantibodies — anti-SSA and anti-SSB autoantibodies — in a retrospective study conducted in China. Interstitial lung disease (ILD), a group of conditions marked by inflammation and scarring of lung tissue, and poorer…

Polyphenols in rabbiteye blueberry leaves may help lower eye dryness in Sjögren’s syndrome, a mouse study suggests. “Blueberry leaves are foods that can be consumed daily, and we suggest that their intake may be useful in relieving the symptoms of lacrimal hyposecretion [low production and release] associated with Sjögren’s…

A 69-year-old woman in China was diagnosed with not one but two rare autoimmune diseases, according to researchers, who reported the case of Sjögren’s syndrome occurring alongside the skin disorder Lichen sclerosus as a reference for clinicians. “Given the rarity of such cases, we report this case to provide…

Memory complaints in people with primary Sjögren’s syndrome are linked to global cognitive impairment — problems affecting not only memory but also other mental faculties, according to data from a small study. While researchers noted that “associated psychiatric and sleep disorders greatly interfere” with cognition in Sjögren’s patients, they…