News

People with primary Sjögren’s syndrome have poor overall and oral health-related quality of life compared to healthy people, but these measures appear to be even worse among those with dryness symptoms (sicca) not related to the disorder, a study has found. The findings suggest that people with non-Sjögren’s…

In recognition of Rare Disease Day Feb. 29, Bionews Services launched a social media campaign last month asking patients to describe what makes them rare. Running Feb. 7–29, the #WhatMakesMeRare campaign was aimed at uplifting people with rare diseases by encouraging them to share their stories and perspectives. The…

Catalpol, the active ingredient in a medicinal herb often used for Sjögren’s syndrome treatment, eases disease symptoms by altering the balance and communication of specific immune cells, a study in mice suggests. The study, “Catalpol ameliorates Sjögren’s Syndrome by modulating interplay of T and B cells,”…

Iscalimab, an investigational antibody therapy from Novartis, showed promise for safety and preliminary efficacy for lessening disease activity in people with primary Sjögren’s syndrome who experience symptoms across the body. Larger and longer studies are warranted to assess the clinically meaningful benefits of the potential therapy, researchers…

Doctors should consider a diagnosis of primary Sjogren’s syndrome when faced with adolescent patients who show psychotic symptoms such as suicidal thoughts, auditory hallucinations, and paranoia, according to a case series. Titled “Adolescent Sjogren’s syndrome presenting as psychosis: a case series,” the report…

Patients with Sjögren’s syndrome and Behçet’s disease have a significantly higher risk of developing obstructive sleep apnea compared to people without those autoimmune disorders, a study has found. The study, “Risk of Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Patients with Sjögren Syndrome and Behçet’s Disease: A Nationwide, Population-Based…

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), a vast government bureaucracy, employs about 17,500 people and had a budget of $5.7 billion in 2019. Yet even with its enormous resources, the FDA these days relies more and more on patients to…

Many people with Sjögren’s syndrome experience oral symptoms beyond mouth dryness — with trouble in speaking, oral ulcers, and difficulty swallowing identified as the ones that most impact their quality of life and finances — a study based on a U.S. patient survey has found. The study was presented…

The gleaming new Dutch headquarters of the European Medicines Agency (EMA), fronting Domenico Scarlattilaan in Amsterdam’s suburban Zuidas business district, finally opened for business last month — just over two years after the European Union decided to relocate the EMA to the Netherlands in the wake of Brexit.

A new machine learning algorithm may help identify people with primary Sjögren’s syndrome who are at an increased risk of developing non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL), a type of blood cancer, findings from a new study suggest. Using risk features such as enlarged salivary glands, counts of certain types of…