Sunday, September 7, 2008 - 1:49PM EST

Introduction to Sjogren's Syndrome

Incidence of Sjogren's Syndrome

It has been estimated that approximately 1 to 2 million Americans are afflicted with Sjogren's syndrome. However, because the disorder may be difficult to diagnose, the incidence of the disease may be considerably higher. Sjogren's syndrome is predominantly a condition that affects women with a female to male ratio of about 9:1, meaning that 90% of people who suffer from Sjogren's syndrome are women. Symptoms of the disorder most often begin between the ages of 40-60, predominantly in peri/ and post menopausal women, but is also seen in young women in their 20s and 30s. The overall prevalence of Sjogren's syndrome in the general population has been estimated to range from 0.5% to 3%.

Approximately 30% of patients with rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus also suffer from Sjogren's syndrome. Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) shares many features with Sjogren's syndrome and it is believed that a subset of peri/post menopausal women diagnosed with SLE may actually have Sjogren's syndrome. It has been estimated that 50-60% of the cases of Sjogren's syndrome are secondary to another underlying autoimmune disorder such as rheumatoid arthritis, systemic sclerosis (scleroderma), or SLE.