Update on Sjögren Syndrome and Other Causes of Sicca in Older Adults

Rheum Dis Clin North Am. 2018 Aug;44(3):419-436. doi: 10.1016/j.rdc.2018.03.002.

Abstract

Dry eye and dry mouth symptoms are each reported by up to 30% of persons more than 65 years of age, particularly in women. Medication side effects are the most common contributing factors. The evaluation of these symptoms requires measures of ocular and oral dryness. Sjögren syndrome is the prototypical disease associated with dryness of the eyes and mouth and predominantly affects women in their perimenopausal and postmenopausal years. In addition to topical treatment of the mucosal dryness, patients with Sjögren syndrome may require treatment with systemic immunomodulatory and immunosuppressive agents to manage a variety of extraglandular manifestations.

Keywords: Aging; Dry eye; Salivary hypofunction; Sjögren syndrome; Xerostomia.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Diagnosis, Differential*
  • Disease Management
  • Dry Eye Syndromes* / diagnosis
  • Dry Eye Syndromes* / etiology
  • Humans
  • Sjogren's Syndrome* / diagnosis
  • Sjogren's Syndrome* / immunology
  • Sjogren's Syndrome* / therapy
  • Xerostomia* / diagnosis
  • Xerostomia* / etiology