News

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…

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…

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…

A low dose treatment of interleukin-2 (IL-2), an immune signaling protein, improved salivary gland function in a Sjögren’s syndrome mouse model, but it didn’t reverse immune-mediated structural damage to the glands, a study showed. Although IL-2 may improve salivary gland function in Sjögren’s, combining it with other immunomodulatory therapies…

Motto Health has launched a type of virtual clinic — with rheumatologists and healthcare professionals — for people with autoimmune and chronic inflammatory conditions, including Sjögren’s syndrome, the startup announced. Through an online application, the platform allows patients to schedule virtual appointments with specialists, manage and track symptoms,…

People with a history of herpes zoster infection, mainly those with no other health conditions, are at an increased risk of developing Sjögren’s syndrome, according to a nationwide, population-based study in Taiwan. Its researchers emphasized the importance of screening for Sjögren’s in patients with herpes zoster infection, particularly among…

Age, disease duration, and blood levels of inflammatory markers Krebs von den Lungen-6 (KL-6) and TNF-alpha are the most discriminating factors for identifying Sjögren’s syndrome patients with interstitial lung disease, a study found. While less significantly associated, other inflammatory markers, including immunoglobulin M (IgM), c-reactive protein (CRP), eotaxin, and…

Sugar metabolism — all chemical reactions involved in making or breaking down glucose, or blood sugar — is overly active in B-cells, a type of immune cell implicated in Sjögren’s syndrome, and may provide a target for developing treatments, a study suggests. The study, “mTORC1-GLUT1-mediated glucose metabolism drives…

People with Sjögren’s syndrome are more likely to require inpatient hospital care for infections acquired in the community, especially those of the airways and intestines, according to a large nationwide French study. “[Sjögren’s] patients had a significantly higher incidence rate of hospitalization for bronchopulmonary infections compared with matched [healthy…

Cytotoxic CD8+ T-cells, a type of immune cells, build up in the salivary glands of the lips of patients with severe Sjögren’s syndrome, where they may kill the epithelial cells that line the glands, according to a new study. As these cells die, the glands no longer can produce…