*Hi Regina, * ** *They've actually identified the autoimmune antibody that is a marker for Devic's NMO. Although one can have a concurrent diagnosis of NMO AND Sjogren's (Which is extremely rare.), I don't think that they are related with the exception that both are autoimmune diseases, at leat I have not yet read anything to that effect in the literature.* ** *dDd you doctor not explain to you that Sjogren's can affect parts of the body other than the eyes?* ** * Sjogren's Subtypes Primary Sjogren's Disease VS Sjogren's Syndrome
Apr 24, 2006 <http://www.suite101.com/daily.cfm/2006-04-24> Elaine Moore<http://www.suite101.com/profile.cfm/daisyelaine> This article describes the clinical and diagnostic differences between primary and secondary Sjogren's syndrome. Sjogren's disease is a chronic autoimmune disease that occurs as a localized syndrome primarily causing mouth and eye dryness (sicca syndrome) or as a systemic disease affecting multiple organs. Sjogren's is suspected of affecting about 2-3 million Americans, 90 percent of them women. Frequently, the condition remains unrecognized and untreated, and when treated, the average diagnosis is reported to take 3.5 years. Women in their fourth decade of life are most likely to be affected. The complaint most often listed at the time of diagnosis is mouth dryness. In Sjogren's syndrome, white blood cells known as lymphocytes invade the exocrine glands. The exocrine glands produce needed moisture for lubricating and bathing the body's organs. Continued at: http://autoimmunedisease.suite101.com/article.cfm/sjogrenssubtypes Grace *
