The essentials

Sjögren's disease (also called Sjögren's syndrome) is an autoimmune condition in which the glands that make tears and saliva are attacked, causing dry eyes and a dry mouth. It can also cause fatigue, joint pain and, less often, problems in the lungs, kidneys or nerves. There is no single test: doctors combine symptoms, eye and mouth tests and blood tests such as ANA and anti-SSA/Ro. It cannot be cured, but symptoms can be controlled, and regular follow-up matters.

What is Sjögren's disease, at a glance?

  • What happens: immune cells attack the glands that produce tears and saliva[1][2].
  • Who: women are about nine times more likely to be affected than men; it affects 1 to 4 million people in the United States[2].
  • Types: primary (no other autoimmune disease) or secondary (with another one, such as rheumatoid arthritis or lupus)[1].
  • Key blood tests: ANA, anti-SSA/Ro and anti-SSB/La, rheumatoid factor[1][3].
  • Outlook: usually not life threatening; treatment relieves symptoms[1][2].

What are the symptoms of Sjögren's disease?

Dry eyes and a dry mouth are the most common symptoms[1][2].

  • Eyes: itching, burning, a feeling of sand or something in the eye, blurry vision or sensitivity to bright light[1][2].
  • Mouth and throat: a dry tongue and throat, trouble chewing, swallowing or speaking, thick saliva, mouth sores, tooth decay and gum inflammation[1][2].
  • Whole body: fatigue, joint and muscle pain, dry skin, rash on the hands or feet, numbness or tingling, a dry cough that does not go away, and vaginal dryness[1][2]. Fingers or toes that change color in the cold (Raynaud's phenomenon) and swollen glands can also occur[1].

Some people have only mild dryness; others have cycles of milder and more severe symptoms[2].

When should I see a doctor?

When to see a doctor

  • Emergency: call 911 for sudden loss of vision, a severe painful red eye, severe shortness of breath, or sudden weakness or numbness on one side of the body.
  • Within a few days for new swollen glands in the neck or under the jaw, a persistent dry cough with breathlessness, a new rash, or numbness or tingling that spreads[1].
  • At your next appointment for dry eyes and a dry mouth that last for weeks, for repeated cavities or mouth infections, or for persistent fatigue and joint pain[1][2].

What causes Sjögren's disease?

The cause is unknown. It is an autoimmune disorder in which the body attacks healthy tissue by mistake[1]. Scientists think a combination of genetic and environmental factors is involved, and a previous viral or bacterial infection may play a role[2].

  • Common Being a woman, most often in midlife[1][2].
  • Common Another autoimmune disease: rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, scleroderma or polymyositis[1].
  • Possible Hepatitis C and IgG4 disease can affect the salivary glands and look like Sjögren's disease[1].
  • Rare It is rare in children[1].

Many other things cause dry mouth and dry eyes, such as antihistamines, decongestants and alcohol, so dryness alone does not mean you have Sjögren's disease[1].

Which blood tests are used to diagnose Sjögren's disease?

A doctor uses your medical history, an exam and clinical and laboratory tests[2]. The usual blood tests include a complete blood count, liver enzymes, ANA, anti-Ro/SSA and anti-La/SSB antibodies, rheumatoid factor, anti-CCP, cryoglobulins, complement levels, protein electrophoresis and thyroid tests, plus hepatitis C and HIV tests if you are at risk[1]. Here is a fictitious report.

Fictitious example of a lab report line (United States format)
TestResultReference rangeFlag
ANA (antinuclear antibodies)Positive, 1:320, speckledNegativePOS
Anti-SSA/Ro antibodiesPositiveNegativePOS
Anti-SSB/La antibodiesNegativeNegative-
Rheumatoid factor48 IU/mLLess than 14 IU/mLH
Complement C422 mg/dL14-45 mg/dL-
  1. ANA: a screening test that is common in many autoimmune diseases and, on its own, diagnoses nothing. The titer (1:320) and pattern (speckled) are read together with the rest.
  2. Anti-SSA/Ro: the most specific antibody for Sjögren's disease. A positive result earns 3 points in the 2016 ACR/EULAR criteria[4].
  3. Rheumatoid factor: often part of the work-up; most US labs treat values under about 14 IU/mL as normal, but your lab's range prevails. Complement C4 is checked because low complements go with a higher-risk course[1].

Got ANA, anti-SSA or rheumatoid factor results? BloodSense explains each line of your report and helps you prepare questions for your rheumatologist.

Get my antibody results explained

How do doctors confirm the diagnosis?

Blood tests are only part of it. Other tests include the Schirmer test of tear production, an eye exam by an ophthalmologist, imaging of the salivary glands by ultrasound or MRI, and sometimes a salivary gland biopsy[1]. The 2016 ACR/EULAR classification criteria add up points for anti-SSA/Ro antibodies, a lip salivary gland biopsy, eye dryness tests and saliva flow; a total of 4 or more in a person with dry eyes or dry mouth supports the diagnosis[4].

How is Sjögren's disease treated and monitored?

There is no cure; treatment relieves symptoms and depends on which parts of the body are affected[2]. No doses are given here.

  • Dry eyes: artificial tears and ointments; tiny plugs placed in the tear ducts may help[1][2].
  • Dry mouth: sipping water through the day, chewing sugarless gum, saliva substitutes, and medicines that increase saliva when local measures are not enough[1][2].
  • Dental care: brushing and flossing often, regular dental visits and mineral-replacing rinses to prevent decay[1].
  • Joint pain: anti-inflammatory medicines may help; in severe cases corticosteroids or immunosuppressive drugs may be prescribed[2].
  • Medicines that dry the mouth, such as antihistamines and decongestants, should be avoided if possible[1].

The disease is most often not life threatening, but complications can include eye damage, dental cavities, lung disease, neuropathy and, rarely, kidney problems or vasculitis[1]. There is a higher risk of lymphoma when the disease has been very active for a long time, and in people with vasculitis, low complements and cryoglobulins[1][3]. This is why your doctor follows your blood tests and symptoms over time.

Questions to ask your doctor

  1. Do my antibodies fit Sjögren's disease, and do I need a biopsy or an eye test?
  2. Could another disease or a medicine of mine explain my dryness?
  3. Which complications should I watch for, and how often should my blood tests be repeated?
  4. Which eye and dental care do you recommend?
  5. Should I see a rheumatologist?

Frequently asked questions

Is Sjögren's syndrome the same as Sjögren's disease?

Yes. The condition was previously known as Sjögren's syndrome and is now often called Sjögren's disease[2].

Can Sjögren's be diagnosed with a blood test alone?

No. Blood tests such as anti-SSA/Ro support the diagnosis, but doctors also use symptoms, eye and mouth tests and sometimes a biopsy[1][4].

Is Sjögren's disease serious?

It is most often not life threatening, but it can affect other organs and raises the risk of lymphoma in some people, so follow-up matters[1].

Can you have a positive ANA without Sjögren's?

Yes. A positive ANA is common and on its own diagnoses nothing; see our ANA guide.

Can Sjögren's disease cause light sensitivity?

Yes. Dry eyes can make you sensitive to bright light and can blur vision[2].

Is there a cure?

No, but treatment can relieve symptoms[2].

  1. MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia. Sjögren syndrome. Reviewed April 2025. US National Library of Medicine. medlineplus.gov (accessed October 23, 2026)
  2. National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research. Sjögren's Disease. National Institutes of Health. nidcr.nih.gov (accessed October 23, 2026)
  3. Brito-Zerón P, Baldini C, Bootsma H, et al. Sjögren syndrome. Nat Rev Dis Primers. 2016;2:16047. doi:10.1038/nrdp.2016.47 (accessed October 23, 2026)
  4. Shiboski CH, Shiboski SC, Seror R, et al. 2016 American College of Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatism classification criteria for primary Sjögren's syndrome. Arthritis Rheumatol. 2017;69(1):35-45. doi:10.1002/art.39859 (accessed October 23, 2026)
  5. MedlinePlus. Sjögren's Syndrome (health topic). US National Library of Medicine. medlineplus.gov (accessed October 23, 2026)

This page is general information. It does not replace the advice of a doctor, who interprets your results with your symptoms, history and examination.