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Guide to Sjogren's Syndrome
Step-By-Step
from National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
Part 6 of 10 - How Is Sjogren's Syndrome Diagnosed?
The doctor will take a detailed medical history, which includes asking questions about general health, symptoms, family medical history, alcohol consumption, smoking, or use of medications. The doctor will also do a complete physical exam to check for other signs of Sjogren's.The doctor will want to check your eyes and mouth to see whether Sjogren's is causing your symptoms.
The doctor may do other tests to see whether the disease is elsewhere in the body as well. Common eye and mouth tests are:
- Schirmer test Measures tears to check the lacrimal gland.
- Staining with vital dyes Shows how much damage dryness has done to the surface of the eye.
- Slit lamp examination Shows how severe the dryness is and whether the outside of the eye is inflamed.
- Mouth exam The doctor will look in the mouth for signs of dryness and to see whether any salivary glands are swollen.
- Salivary gland biopsy of the lip This test is the best way to find out whether dry mouth is caused by Sjogren's syndrome.
Because there are many causes of dry eyes and dry mouth, other causes will be taken into account. Generally, you are considered to have Sjogren's if you have dry eyes, dry mouth, and a positive lip biopsy. But the doctor may do additional tests to see whether other parts of the body are affected, these include:
- Routine blood tests
- Immunological tests
- Antithyroid antibodies
- Immunoglobulins
- Rheumatoid factors
- Antinuclear antibodies
- Sjogren's antibodies (SS-A,SS-Ro,SS-B,SS-La)
- Chest x-ray
- Urinalysis
- Part 1 of 10 - What is Sjogren's Syndrome?
- Part 2 of 10 - What is Primary and Secondary Sjogren's Syndrome?
- Part 3 of 10 - What Are the Symptoms of Sjogren's Syndrome?
- Part 4 of 10 - What Causes Sjogren's Syndrome?
- Part 5 of 10 - What Type of Doctor Diagnoses and Treats Sjogren's Syndrome?
- Part 6 of 10 - How Is Sjogren's Syndrome Diagnosed?
- Part 7 of 10 - How Is Sjogren's Syndrome Treated?
- Part 8 of 10 - What Can I Do About Dry Eyes?
- Part 9 of 10 - What Can I Do About Dry Mouth?
- Part 10 of 10 - What Can I Do About Dry Skin?
