World Sjögren's Syndrome Awareness Day

 

Every year, July 23rd is recognized as World Sjögren's Syndrome Awareness Day. This date marks the birthday of Dr. Henrik Sjögren, the first person to describe this autoimmune disease. The day aims to raise awareness and gather funds for research, education, and advocacy related to Sjögren's syndrome. Dr. Henrik Samuel Conrad Sjögren was a Swedish ophthalmologist best known for identifying the condition now known as Sjögren's syndrome.

In 1929, Dr. Sjögren saw a patient who reported classic symptoms: dry eyes, dry mouth, and joint pain. This was his first encounter with the syndrome, as the patient was a 49-year-old woman suffering from arthritis accompanied by severe dryness in her mouth and eyes. While each of these symptoms had already been documented individually, it was the combination of them that prompted Dr. Sjögren to investigate further.

In 1933, he presented 19 similar cases in his doctoral thesis, which laid the foundation for identifying Sjögren's syndrome. Sjögren's syndrome is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system mistakenly attacks the glands responsible for producing and regulating moisture in the body, including tears and saliva. 

Dryness can result in a range of eye issues, including discomfort, changes in vision, and a higher risk of infection. Common eye problems often encountered by patients with Sjögren's Syndrome include:

• Dry Eyes
• Conjunctivitis
• Corneal Damage
• Blurry Vision
• Light Sensitivity

Many individuals diagnosed with Sjögren's syndrome also have co-existing autoimmune diseases, particularly those that impact connective tissue. Commonly associated conditions include rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and scleroderma. Less often, individuals may experience autoimmune thyroid disease, mixed connective tissue disease, myositis, biliary cirrhosis, and chronic autoimmune hepatitis.

Sources:

www.my.clevelandclinic.org

www.mayoclinic.org

www.sjogrens.org

Photo Source:

https://sjogrens.org/

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