![]() Pulmonary manifestations include interstitial lung disease and pulmonary cysts. Chronic dry cough and dry mouth (xerostomia) are characteristic of SS and patients suffer with reduced salivary flow rate, increased saliva viscosity and dry mucous membranes. It is known to predominantly affect the moisture producing glands of the body as well as having neurologic, respiratory and systemic components. Sjögren’s (Sho-Gren’s) is a complex condition that is most commonly associated with oral and ocular dryness, fatigue and pain. Briefly mentioned in my post about extra-articular manifestations, SS is an autoimmune, rheumatic disorder outlined in the British Society for Rheumatology’s (BSR) long term conditions framework.Įxtra-Articular Manifestations are Key to Early Diagnosis SS gets its name from the Swedish Ophthalmologist, Henrik Samuel Sjögren (1899 – 1986). Researching Sjögren’s helped in our following treatment sessions and it is, perhaps, unsurprising that the first ever UK guidelines for managing adults with Sjögren’s were published as late as 2017. I later considered how our first meeting could have gone if I’d had an idea of her condition, its links to musculoskeletal practice and the potential burden of this on her life. ![]() Whilst this lack of knowledge of course wasn’t the be all and end all, I knew that at that moment I had missed one of the many early opportunities in an assessment to gain patient confidence. When discussing her past medical history, she mentioned being diagnosed with Sjögren’s Syndrome (SS), adding, “I bet you have no idea what that is?” She was right, I didn’t. ![]() A few months ago a patient presented into the musculoskeletal outpatients clinic with lower limb arthralgia.
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