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| ==Overview== | | ==Overview== |
| ==Laboratory Findings== | | ==Laboratory Findings== |
| Diagnosing Sjögren’s syndrome is complicated by the range of symptoms a patient may manifest, and the similarity between symptoms from Sjögren's syndrome and those caused by other conditions. Nevertheless, the combination of several tests can lead to a diagnosis of Sjögren's syndrome.
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| Blood tests can be done to determine if a patient has high levels of antibodies that are indicative of the condition, such as [[anti-nuclear antibody]] (ANA) and [[rheumatoid factor]], which are associated with autoimmune diseases. Typical Sjögren syndrome ANA patterns are SSA/Ro and SSB/La, of which SSB/La is far more specific; SSA/Ro is associated with numerous other autoimmune conditions but are often present in Sjögren's (Franceschini & Cavazzana I 2005).
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| The [[Schirmer's test|Schirmer test]] measures the production of tears: a strip of filter paper is held inside the lower eyelid for five minutes, and its wetness is then measured with a ruler. A [[slit lamp|slit-lamp examination]] is done to look for dryness on the surface of the eye. Salivary gland function can be tested by collecting saliva and determining the amount produced. A lip [[biopsy]] can reveal [[lymphocyte]]s clustered around salivary glands, and damage to these glands due to [[inflammation]].
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| ==References== | | ==References== |