Here's a little information off of the hcvinprison website, it's off one of their newsletters. They're a bit old, it's off of their Jan-Feb 2002 pdf. I left the link, but it may be zapped. God Bless
Glossary of Common Conditions Linked to Hepatitis C
Sjogren's Syndrome - Sjogren's syndrome is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disorder. The syndrome occurs by itself or can, and often does, occur with other autoimmune diseases such as lupus, ploymyositis, rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma, and other lesser known rheumatic autoimmune diseases. In Sjogren's syndrome, the immune system produces lymphocytes (white blood cells) that produce self-reactive proteins called autoantibodies which attack the tear, salivary, and other moisture producing glands, thus destroying the glands and their ability to produce moisture. Many parts of the body can be affected by Sjogren's syndrome, such as the lungs, brain, nerves, joints, kidneys, thyroid, and liver. In the majority of cases, the autoimmune response is confined to the tear ducts, salivary glands, and vagina.
http://www.hcvinprison.org/cms/images/stories/hcvinprison/docs/newsletters/Jan-Feb_2002.pdf
Hi
Sjogren's Syndrome effects about 4 million in the us. HCV is not a cause. They don't know what causes it.
www.sjogrens.netfirms.com has a ton of info on it.
A postive SSA can indicate Sjogren's. But the test can be positive and you not have Sjogren's and negative and you still have it. It is not specific. One of the reasons it usually takes ten years , on average to get a diagnosis.
I was dx with it years ago - a lot of RA folks have it. Mine wasn't to bad until tx - now the eyes are really killing me - very dry - burning, and mouth ugh.....my tounge literally sticks to the roof of my mouth at night sometimes...peeled skin off the other day...great fun. It had been under control with my RA meds (prednisone and Enbrel) But good ole tx brings out all the fun stuff.
HCV brings out autoimmune deisease so yea it does make sense...maybe it will retreat when your tx is over. ....are you in tx?
Sure anytime, It looks very common! I had never heard of it beofre, a lot of the same symptoms as HCV. Take care !
Deb
I was wrong, SJL has posted re:cryoglobulemia.
Sorry to mislead you.
Bug
I remember someone posting about Sjorgens a couple of years ago also.
I think they might have had a moniker with 3 initials....SJL? Not sure of anything, bet it's in the archives.
I work in a SNF and met a woman who had been dxed with this syndrome, around the same time as someone posted about it. The person in the SNF wasn't hep c positive, but had RA.
I'm surprised that more haven't had this extra-hepatic manifestation of the disease. As you probably know, raynauds syndrome (sp?) goes hand in hand with Sjorgens (no pun intended)
What made your dr test for Sjorgens? Hope you find a support group with more info.
Good luck...
Bug
Thanks for the info...
sadd
Found a fair bit about this, here is a link for a foundation, looks like a lot of people suffer from it
http:// www. sjogrens .org/
Hope that works close the gaps
http:// www .webmd.com/rheumatoid-arthritis /arthritis-sjogrens-syndrome
a med help article also
A long time ago, maybe 2 years, someone had mentioned a diagnosis of Sjogren's. Can't remember who or the circumstances. I remember looking up some medical references about it.