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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…

Certain proteins in saliva are found at significantly different levels in mice modeling Sjögren’s syndrome as compared with healthy animals, and may serve as promising biomarkers for the chronic autoimmune disorder, a study found. If the findings are confirmed in humans, they could advance a method to diagnose Sjögren’s using…

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…

A mix of four traditional Chinese herbal medicines may help improve sleep and reduce the levels of certain antibodies in patients with Sjögren’s disease, a Taiwanese study suggests. However, no differences were seen in disease severity scores between patients treated with the Chinese medicine mixture compared to those on…

The Sjögren’s Foundation has given it 2021 Outstanding Abstract Award to two scientists who presented new research about Sjögren’s syndrome at this year’s annual meeting of the American College of Rheumatology. The award “recognizes exceptional research and encourages investigators to continue to focus on Sjögren’s throughout their career,”…

Ianalumab (VAY736), an investigational antibody to treat Sjögren’s syndrome, at high dose was well-tolerated by patients using it for one year, and led to reductions in disease activity and significantly greater saliva production, data from a Phase 2b clinical trial show. Findings were shared at the 2021 American College of Rheumatology…

Sensitivity to smell is reduced in people with Sjögren’s syndrome, compared with healthy controls, and appears to be linked to the severity of the disease, a new study reports. The study, “Olfactory impairment in patients with primary Sjogren’s syndrome and its correlation with organ involvement and immunological abnormalities,”…

People with Sjögren’s syndrome appear to have imbalances in their oral and gut microbiota relative to healthy individuals, but studies to date provide inconsistent results so that clear conclusions cannot be drawn, a review study reports. Notably, the lack of standardized methodology and appropriate control groups may be behind…

The Sjögren’s Foundation will host a one-day virtual conference aimed at increasing patients’ understanding and management of symptoms. The conference will feature Sjögren’s syndrome experts and the focus will be on the nervous system and Sjögren’s, according to a press release, Scheduled for noon to 4:30 p.m. EST on Nov. 13,…

After a four-year effort led by the Sjögren’s Foundation, new health statistics codes in the U.S. — known as ICD-10 codes — recognizing Sjögren’s syndrome as a distinctive condition from “sicca” are now in effect. The codes are officially known as the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and…