Patricia Inácio, PhD, science writer —

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…

An ultrasound evaluation of salivary gland damage may help the stratification of primary Sjögren’s syndrome patients and aid the design of future clinical trials, according to a recent study. The study, “Discriminative power of salivary gland ultrasound in relation to symptom-based endotypes in suspected and definite…

The function of immune regulatory T-cells (Tregs) — cells that play a key role in dampening the body’s immune response — is impaired in women with Sjögren’s syndrome, a study suggests. Moreover, blood levels of a protein called sIL-2R were elevated in those with more severe disease. According to…

Elevated levels in the blood of the protein Krebs von den Lungen-6 (KL-6) — an indicator of lung inflammation — may help identify interstitial lung disease (ILD) in people with primary Sjögren’s syndrome who may not show symptoms, a study suggests. “Serum KL-6 level can serve as a valuable…