Description

Sjögren syndrome is an autoimmune disorder in which the body's immune system mistakenly reacts to the tissue in glands that produce moisture, such as tear and salivary glands. It is a chronic inflammatory disease that often progresses to a more complex, systemic disorder that can affect other tissues and organs in the body such as joints, skin, kidneys, lungs, nervous system, and the intestinal tract. Sjögren syndrome is characterized by an unusual accumulation (infiltration) of a particular type of white blood cell, lymphocytes, in the glands that are responsible for fluid production. 

Examples of some of the signs and symptoms include:

  • Decreased sense of taste and smell
  • Dry cough
  • Dry gritty eyes
  • Dry mouth with difficulty swallowing or talking
  • Dry skin and rashes
  • Fatigue
  • Joint pain and swelling
  • Muscle pain
  • Numbness or tingling in the hands or feet (neuropathy)
  • Sore tongue or throat
  • Swollen salivary (parotid) glands
  • Vaginal dryness
  • Stomach upset, irritable bowel
  • Recurrent bronchitis or pneumonia

This panel includes the following test:

Complete Blood Count

Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP)

Sjogren's Anti SS-A and SS-B Blood Test

Fasting not required.

Additional information about each test is listed below:

A complete blood count (CBC) is used in diagnosing Sjögren Syndrome to check for potential abnormalities in the number of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets, which can sometimes be affected by the autoimmune disease, even though most patients will have a normal CBC result; significant deviations from normal ranges may indicate complications or the need for further investigation.

A Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP) is used in Sjögren Syndrome diagnosis to assess the function of the kidneys and liver, as these organs can be affected by the disease, and to monitor for potential complications like inflammation or damage to these systems by checking blood levels of key enzymes and electrolytes, particularly when symptoms like fatigue or unexplained changes in urine output are present; essentially, it helps to monitor overall systemic health and identify potential issues related to Sjögren's syndrome that might not be readily apparent through other tests alone. 

Sjogren's Anti SS-A and SS-B Blood Test– Anti-SS-A and anti-SS-B are autoantibodies that can be detected in the blood of people with Sjögren's syndrome