Sjögren’s syndrome (SS) is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease in which the salivary and lacrimal glands are attacked by immune cells. The tear and salivary glands usually become inflamed first. As a result, the glands produce less fluid. This leads to dry eyes with conjunctivitis and a dry mouth. As the disease progresses, other mucous membranes also dry out (respiratory tract, vagina). Doctors also refer to this dryness symptom as sicca syndrome (siccus: dry). Often the disease affects not only the glands, but the entire organism.
