What is Sjogren's syndrome

Sjogren's syndrome - a syndrome which is characterized by a combination of signs of damage some exocrine glands (releasing the secret to a body surface or in the cavity - salivary, lacrimal, sweat, vaginal, etc.) with a number of autoimmune diseases (they are characterized by allergic own tissues of the patient) .

Sjogren was first studied in detail and described the syndrome that included keratoconjunctivitis sicca (an inflammatory disease in which affected both the cornea and conjunctiva of the eye), xerostomia (dry mouth because of the defeat of the salivary glands), and autoimmune disease rheumatoid arthritis Arthritis - a variety of forms and complications . As described hereinafter, and other combinations of symptoms such as lesions lacrimal, salivary and other glands in combination with such systemic connective tissue disease, scleroderma and systemic lupus erythematosus, and so on. Today, Sjogren's syndrome and Sjogren's disease refers to a group of common diseases of the connective tissue.

Sjogren's disease - a systemic autoimmune disease characterized by dryness of mucous membranes, caused widespread defeat glands and involvement in the process of muscle, gastrointestinal tract, lungs and other organs. Thus in contrast to patients with Sjögren's syndrome is not revealed any distinct autoimmune diseases.

Sjogren's syndrome occurs primarily in women aged twenty to sixty years (usually after forty years). There are cases of Sjogren's syndrome in children. According to statistics, Sjogren's syndrome is observed in 15-25% of patients with rheumatoid arthritis, in 5-10% of patients with collagen diseases, in 50-100% of patients with autoimmune liver diseases.

How is Sjögren's syndrome

In most cases, Sjogren's syndrome occurs in patients with chronic systemic lupus erythematosus and systemic sclerosis Scleroderma - affects all the organs . In most patients, symptoms of Sjogren's syndrome appear in the background of a detailed picture of the underlying disease, an average of five to ten years after it began.

Evident signs of disease gland lesion of the conjunctiva and cornea of ​​the eye, dry mouth and does not have any influence on the course of the underlying disease. It merely adds to the picture of the disease symptoms uncharacteristic for him and complicate its treatment.

The most common symptom of the disease is keratoconjunctivitis caused by decreased secretion of tear fluid. Patients often complain of a burning sensation or burning pain, describing them as a "scratch" or "sand" in the eyes. These feelings are enhanced when driving age.

The second major and permanent feature is the defeat of the salivary glands, which leads to the development of dry mouth and chronic inflammation of the parotid salivary glands (mumps), which flows with periodic exacerbations, accompanied by pain, severe edema Prevention and treatment of edema - it is important to understand the root cause   and raising the temperature to 38-40˚. Typically, the process involves both parotid glands, at least - one.

Third place in frequency holds joint disease, which is characterized by pain in the joints, stiffness in the morning. It affects mainly the small joints of the hand.

There are often signs of the gastrointestinal tract that are manifested swallowing disorders and diarrhea. Characteristic signs of chronic pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas) and colitis (inflammation of the colon).

Dryness of the mucous membrane of trachea and bronchi are predisposing moments for accession lung infections - patients have recurrent bronchitis and pneumonia Pneumonia - Symptoms and Causes .

Diagnosis and treatment

The diagnosis of Sjogren's syndrome is considered valid in the presence of a combination of typical eye lesions, salivary glands, dry mouth with a variety of autoimmune diseases.

Treatment begins with the treatment of primary (autoimmune) disease. Used mainly drugs that suppress the body's autoimmune reaction (eg, glucocorticoid hormones). In parallel, we treat goiter, which usually lasts for years. To prevent dry eyes, artificial tears are appointed, saline is instilled into the nose, use special moisturizers vagina. To prevent long-term dryness of the bronchial tubes appointed reception expectorants, with the defeat of the gastrointestinal tract is carried out in the form of substitution therapy receiving enzymes.

If treatment is started in time and did not join the infection, disease progression is possible to pause.

Galina Romanenko

What is dry eye syndrome

To our eyes he could clearly see the surrounding objects, its outer transparent shell - the cornea must be constantly wetted by tears. Prolonged stress of a person may appear rez ("sand") in the eyes and reduced visual acuity. If you stop to strain your eyes and rub your eyes or just to blink, then all it takes. These phenomena occur due to increased dryness of the eyes and so called dry eye syndrome. And as eye strain most often occurs on the job, the dry eye syndrome Dry eye syndrome - how to improve quality of life   It becomes a constant companion of our civilization. People are constantly straining eyes blink less frequently. Consequently, the cornea is not sufficiently hydrated, there is dryness and redness of the eyes Red eyes - an occasion consult an ophthalmologist . With a constant eye irritation they begin to tear, but it does not remove the problem of dryness, but rather exacerbates it, since such bad tears lubricate the cornea. The next step - erosion (superficial breach of integrity) of the cornea and blurred vision.

The causes of dry eye - is the voltage of electromagnetic radiation (computer, TV, microwave, etc.), dry air in the premises (especially those where there is air conditioning - it dries the air), wearing the wrong, self poobobrannyh glasses, contact lenses (they almost always make the eyes dry), some drugs (diuretics to reduce blood pressure, drug, relieving low mood and anxiety, and so on), atmospheric pollution industrial emissions and car exhaust fumes, long stay on a diet with reduced fat (fatty acid - an important element of metabolism Metabolism: The basis of life of all living things With their participation occurs, including production and tears).

Sisteyn - drug relieves dryness

Sisteyn - eyedrops - lubricant (synthetic lubricant, a humectant) from the group of artificial tears, which include polyethylene glycol, propylene glycol, hydroxypropyl, boric acid, calcium chloride, magnesium chloride, potassium chloride, sodium chloride, zinc chloride, polidroniya (polikvad) .

Working together, these substances make in contact with the ocular surface protective gel on its surface (increasing pH sisteyna after instillation into the eye to a pH tears triggers its transition from liquid to gel) to provide individual relief from dryness during the day and restoring the natural tear film on the cornea that protects the surface of the eye. Gel formed on the basis of the contact lens Contact lenses - whether they can completely replace the glasses?   It protects the cornea from drying out without damaging it in the process. By the end of the gel gradually washed away by tears. Sisteyn repeats the chemical composition of tears, a unique polymer system formed on the surface of the cornea after falling to eye drops, it adapts to the individual characteristics of pH of each person, so the likelihood of eye irritation and allergy is very low. Nevertheless, the possibility of allergic reactions to certain components sisteyna (as well as any other substance) exists.

Sisteyn moisturizes, provides comfort and protects the eyes from dryness, irritation, burning sensation, feeling of a foreign body or sand.

This is recommended sisteyn and rules of application

Sisteyn recommended for eye irritation caused by dust, smoke, ultraviolet light, dry heat, air conditioning, wind, cosmetics, screen flickering and other factors.

Sisteyn instilled in the eye (1-2 drops in each eye) as needed throughout the day (usually enough to drip once) to moisten the eyes and increase comfort. Treatment sisteynom desirable to combine with other preventive measures:

• break every hour to the hard work of the eye;
• during the break to do exercises for the eyes - this will increase the flow of blood to the eyeball and reduce dryness: blinked, then close them and turn the eyeballs turn into one or the other party;
• can not rub your eyes - this will increase the irritation;
• If you strain your eyes at work, at home he should be given the maximum discharge (for example, exclude the television);
• establish a balanced diet (including adequate intake of protein, fat and carbohydrates), and vitamin-mineral complexes of at least two times a year.

Contraindications for use drops sisteyn is an idiosyncrasy of components of this drug. Adverse effects with no observed sisteyna

Drops sisteyn manufactured by the pharmaceutical company Alcon (Spain) - the world leader in the field of ophthalmology and is recommended not only for treatment but also for prevention of dry eye syndrome.

Galina Romanenko