Sjogren Syndrome Differential Diagnoses
- Author: Anne V Miller, MD; Chief Editor: Herbert S Diamond, MD more...
Diagnostic Considerations
Xerophthalmia, xerostomia, and enlargement of the parotid glands can result from adverse effects of drugs and other diseases. HIV infection can result in diffuse infiltrative lymphocytosis syndrome (DILS), which is characterized by parotid enlargement; involvement of the renal, lung, and gastrointestinal systems; and a low frequency of autoantibody presence. Chronic graft versus host disease may mimic symptoms associated with idiopathic Sjögren syndrome.[57] SLE might be considered, especially at onset of the disease. Autoimmune thyroid dysfunction may be present. Sjögren syndrome can be underdiagnosed or misdiagnosed.
Histology
Histologic findings of the following disorders can be consistent with Sjögren syndrome:
- Sarcoidosis
- Graft versus host disease
- HIV infection
- HTLV-1 infection
- HCV infection
- Keratoconjunctivitis sicca
Sicca
Differential diagnoses to consider in patients with sicca include the following:
- Medications (eg, antidepressants, anticholinergics, beta-blockers, diuretics, antihistamines, some antiarrhythmic and antiepileptic drugs)
- Anxiety and depression
- Viral infections (eg, mumps)
- Complications from contact lenses
- Dehydration
- Hypervitaminosis A
- Neurotropic keratitis
- Mucous membrane pemphigoid
- Environmental irritants
- Mouth breathing
- Chronic blepharitis
- Chronic conjunctivitis
- Rosacea
- Therapeutic radiation or surgery to the head and neck
- Age
- Alzheimer disease
- Parkinson disease
- Bell palsy
- Amyloidosis
- Sarcoidosis
- Lymphoma
Parotid enlargement
Differential diagnoses to consider in patients with parotid enlargement include the following:
- Viral infection (eg, mumps, Epstein-Barr virus, cytomegalovirus, coxsackievirus A, influenza)
- DILS associated with HIV disease
- Granulomatous diseases (sarcoidosis, tuberculosis, leprosy)
- Hyperlipoproteinemia
- Hepatic cirrhosis
- Hepatitis C
- Bulimia
- Recurrent parotiditis of childhood
- Chronic pancreatitis
- Acromegaly
- Amyloidosis
- Gonadal hypofunction
- Diabetes mellitus
- Salivary gland tumor (primarily unilateral)
- Bacterial infection (primarily unilateral)
- Chronic sialadenitis (primarily unilateral)
- Lymphoma
Associated disorders
Importantly, evaluate the patient for disorders associated with Sjögren syndrome, including the following:
- AIDS
- RA
- SLE
- Scleroderma
- Polymyositis
- Primary biliary cirrhosis
- Thyroiditis
- Chronic active hepatitis
- Mixed cryoglobulinemia
- Celiac sprue
Differential Diagnoses
- Amyloidosis, Immunoglobulin-Related
- Bulimia
- IgG4-related systemic disease
- Pancreatitis, Chronic
- Polymyositis
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Salivary Gland Tumors, Major, Benign
- Salivary Gland Tumors, Minor, Benign
- Sarcoidosis
- Scleroderma
- Tuberculosis
Kittridge A, Routhouska SB, Korman NJ. Dermatologic manifestations of Sjögren syndrome. J Cutan Med Surg. Jan-Feb 2011;15(1):8-14. [Medline].
Vitali C, Bombardieri S, Jonsson R, Moutsopoulos HM, Alexander EL, Carsons SE, et al. Classification criteria for Sjögren's syndrome: a revised version of the European criteria proposed by the American-European Consensus Group. Ann Rheum Dis. Jun 2002;61(6):554-8. [Medline].
Langegger C, Wenger M, Duftner C, Dejaco C, Baldissera I, Moncayo R, et al. Use of the European preliminary criteria, the Breiman-classification tree and the American-European criteria for diagnosis of primary Sjögren's Syndrome in daily practice: a retrospective analysis. Rheumatol Int. Jun 2007;27(8):699-702. [Medline].
Tzioufas AG, Voulgarelis M. Update on Sjögren's syndrome autoimmune epithelitis: from classification to increased neoplasias. Best Pract Res Clin Rheumatol. Dec 2007;21(6):989-1010. [Medline].
Gálvez J, Sáiz E, López P, Pina MA, Carrillo A, Nieto A, et al. Diagnostic evaluation and classification criteria in Sjögren's Syndrome. Joint Bone Spine. Sep 29 2008;[Medline].
Ogawa N, Ping L, Zhenjun L, Takada Y, Sugai S. Involvement of the interferon-gamma-induced T cell-attracting chemokines, interferon-gamma-inducible 10-kd protein (CXCL10) and monokine induced by interferon-gamma (CXCL9), in the salivary gland lesions of patients with Sjögren's syndrome. Arthritis Rheum. Oct 2002;46(10):2730-41.
Gottenberg JE, Cagnard N, Lucchesi C, Letourneur F, Mistou S, Lazure T, et al. Activation of IFN pathways and plasmacytoid dendritic cell recruitment in target organs of primary Sjögren's syndrome. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. Feb 21 2006;103(8):2770-5. [Medline].
Price EJ, Venables PJ. The etiopathogenesis of Sjögren's syndrome. Semin Arthritis Rheum. Oct 1995;25(2):117-33. [Medline].
Mattey DL, González-Gay MA, Hajeer AH, Dababneh A, Thomson W, García-Porrúa C, et al. Association between HLA-DRB1*15 and secondary Sjögren's syndrome in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. J Rheumatol. Nov 2000;27(11):2611-6. [Medline].
Papasteriades CA, Skopouli FN, Drosos AA, Andonopoulos AP, Moutsopoulos HM. HLA-alloantigen associations in Greek patients with Sjögren's syndrome. J Autoimmun. Feb 1988;1(1):85-90. [Medline].
Reveille JD, Macleod MJ, Whittington K, Arnett FC. Specific amino acid residues in the second hypervariable region of HLA-DQA1 and DQB1 chain genes promote the Ro (SS-A)/La (SS-B) autoantibody responses. J Immunol. Jun 1 1991;146(11):3871-6. [Medline].
Gottenberg JE, Busson M, Loiseau P, Cohen-Solal J, Lepage V, Charron D, et al. In primary Sjögren's syndrome, HLA class II is associated exclusively with autoantibody production and spreading of the autoimmune response. Arthritis Rheum. Aug 2003;48(8):2240-5. [Medline].
Haddad J, Deny P, Munz-Gotheil C, Ambrosini JC, Trinchet JC, Pateron D, et al. Lymphocytic sialadenitis of Sjögren's syndrome associated with chronic hepatitis C virus liver disease. Lancet. Feb 8 1992;339(8789):321-3. [Medline].
Itescu S, Winchester R. Diffuse infiltrative lymphocytosis syndrome: a disorder occurring in human immunodeficiency virus-1 infection that may present as a sicca syndrome. Rheum Dis Clin North Am. Aug 1992;18(3):683-97. [Medline].
Fox RI. Epidemiology, pathogenesis, animal models, and treatment of Sjögren's syndrome. Curr Opin Rheumatol. Sep 1994;6(5):501-8. [Medline].
Fox RI. Sjögren's syndrome. Lancet. Jul 23-29 2005;366(9482):321-31. [Medline].
Parkin B, Chew JB, White VA, Garcia-Briones G, Chhanabhai M, Rootman J. Lymphocytic infiltration and enlargement of the lacrimal glands: a new subtype of primary Sjögren's syndrome?. Ophthalmology. Nov 2005;112(11):2040-7. [Medline].
Bacman S, Perez Leiros C, Sterin-Borda L, Hubscher O, Arana R, Borda E. Autoantibodies against lacrimal gland M3 muscarinic acetylcholine receptors in patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. Jan 1998;39(1):151-6. [Medline].
Steinfeld S, Cogan E, King LS, Agre P, Kiss R, Delporte C. Abnormal distribution of aquaporin-5 water channel protein in salivary glands from Sjögren's syndrome patients. Lab Invest. Feb 2001;81(2):143-8. [Medline].
Waterman SA, Gordon TP, Rischmueller M. Inhibitory effects of muscarinic receptor autoantibodies on parasympathetic neurotransmission in Sjögren's syndrome. Arthritis Rheum. Jul 2000;43(7):1647-54. [Medline].
Dawson LJ, Stanbury J, Venn N, Hasdimir B, Rogers SN, Smith PM. Antimuscarinic antibodies in primary Sjögren's syndrome reversibly inhibit the mechanism of fluid secretion by human submandibular salivary acinar cells. Arthritis Rheum. Apr 2006;54(4):1165-73. [Medline].
Bolstad AI, Eiken HG, Rosenlund B, Alarcón-Riquelme ME, Jonsson R. Increased salivary gland tissue expression of Fas, Fas ligand, cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen 4, and programmed cell death 1 in primary Sjögren's syndrome. Arthritis Rheum. Jan 2003;48(1):174-85. [Medline].
Pflugfelder SC. Antiinflammatory therapy for dry eye. Am J Ophthalmol. Feb 2004;137(2):337-42. [Medline].
Ng KP, Isenberg DA. Sjögren's syndrome: diagnosis and therapeutic challenges in the elderly. Drugs Aging. 2008;25(1):19-33. [Medline].
Helmick CG, Felson DT, Lawrence RC, et al. Estimates of the prevalence of arthritis and other rheumatic conditions in the United States. Part I. Arthritis Rheum. Jan 2008;58(1):15-25. [Medline].
Haldorsen K, Moen K, Jacobsen H, Jonsson R, Brun JG. Exocrine function in primary Sjögren syndrome: natural course and prognostic factors. Ann Rheum Dis. Jul 2008;67(7):949-54. [Medline].
Belenguer R, Ramos-Casals M, Brito-Zerón P, et al. Influence of clinical and immunological parameters on the health-related quality of life of patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome. Clin Exp Rheumatol. May-Jun 2005;23(3):351-6. [Medline].
Theander E, Vasaitis L, Baecklund E, et al. Lymphoid organisation in labial salivary gland biopsies is a possible predictor for the development of malignant lymphoma in primary Sjögren's syndrome. Ann Rheum Dis. Aug 2011;70(8):1363-8. [Medline]. [Full Text].
Schein OD, Hochberg MC, Munoz B, et al. Dry eye and dry mouth in the elderly: a population-based assessment. Arch Intern Med. Jun 28 1999;159(12):1359-63. [Medline].
Schaumberg DA, Buring JE, Sullivan DA, Dana MR. Hormone replacement therapy and dry eye syndrome. JAMA. Nov 7 2001;286(17):2114-9. [Medline].
Soy M, Piskin S. Cutaneous findings in patients with primary Sjogren's syndrome. Clin Rheumatol. Aug 2007;26(8):1350-2. [Medline].
Fox RI, Liu AY. Sjögren's syndrome in dermatology. Clin Dermatol. Sep-Oct 2006;24(5):393-413. [Medline].
Constantopoulos SH, Tsianos EV, Moutsopoulos HM. Pulmonary and gastrointestinal manifestations of Sjögren's syndrome. Rheum Dis Clin North Am. Aug 1992;18(3):617-35. [Medline].
Parambil JG, Myers JL, Lindell RM, Matteson EL, Ryu JH. Interstitial lung disease in primary Sjögren syndrome. Chest. Nov 2006;130(5):1489-95. [Medline].
Wotherspoon AC. Gastric MALT lymphoma and Helicobacter pylori. Yale J Biol Med. Jan-Feb 1996;69(1):61-8. [Medline].
Hammar O, Ohlsson B, Wollmer P, Mandl T. Impaired gastric emptying in primary Sjogren's syndrome. J Rheumatol. Nov 2010;37(11):2313-8. [Medline].
Launay D, Hachulla E, Hatron PY, Jais X, Simonneau G, Humbert M. Pulmonary arterial hypertension: a rare complication of primary Sjögren syndrome: report of 9 new cases and review of the literature. Medicine (Baltimore). Sep 2007;86(5):299-315. [Medline].
Cai FZ, Lester S, Lu T, Keen H, Boundy K, Proudman SM, et al. Mild autonomic dysfunction in primary Sjögren's syndrome: a controlled study. Arthritis Res Ther. 2008;10(2):R31. [Medline].
Delalande S, de Seze J, Fauchais AL, Hachulla E, Stojkovic T, Ferriby D, et al. Neurologic manifestations in primary Sjögren syndrome: a study of 82 patients. Medicine (Baltimore). Sep 2004;83(5):280-91. [Medline].
Mori K, Iijima M, Koike H, Hattori N, Tanaka F, Watanabe H, et al. The wide spectrum of clinical manifestations in Sjögren's syndrome-associated neuropathy. Brain. Nov 2005;128:2518-34. [Medline].
Gøransson LG, Herigstad A, Tjensvoll AB, Harboe E, Mellgren SI, Omdal R. Peripheral neuropathy in primary sjogren syndrome: a population-based study. Arch Neurol. Nov 2006;63(11):1612-5. [Medline].
Ramachandiran N. Apparently persistent weakness after recurrent hypokalemic paralysis: a tale of two disorders. South Med J. Sep 2008;101(9):940-2. [Medline].
van de Merwe JP. Interstitial cystitis and systemic autoimmune diseases. Nat Clin Pract Urol. Sep 2007;4(9):484-91. [Medline].
Leppilahti M, Tammela TL, Huhtala H, Kiilholma P, Leppilahti K, Auvinen A. Interstitial cystitis-like urinary symptoms among patients with Sjögren's syndrome: a population-based study in Finland. Am J Med. Jul 2003;115(1):62-5. [Medline].
Invernizzi P, Battezzati PM, Crosignani A, Zermiani P, Bignotto M, Del Papa N, et al. Antibody to carbonic anhydrase II is present in primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) irrespective of antimitochondrial antibody status. Clin Exp Immunol. Dec 1998;114(3):448-54. [Medline].
D'Arbonneau F, Ansart S, Le Berre R, Dueymes M, Youinou P, Pennec YL. Thyroid dysfunction in primary Sjögren's syndrome: a long-term followup study. Arthritis Rheum. Dec 15 2003;49(6):804-9. [Medline].
Prajs K, Bobrowska-Snarska D, Skala M, Brzosko M. Polyarteritis nodosa and Sjögren's syndrome: overlap syndrome. Rheumatol Int. May 18 2010;[Medline].
Lemp MA. Advances in understanding and managing dry eye disease. Am J Ophthalmol. Sep 2008;146(3):350-356. [Medline].
Versura P, Frigato M, Cellini M, Mulè R, Malavolta N, Campos EC. Diagnostic performance of tear function tests in Sjogren's syndrome patients. Eye. Feb 2007;21(2):229-37. [Medline].
Antoniazzi RP, Miranda LA, Zanatta FB, et al. Periodontal conditions of individuals with Sjögren's syndrome. J Periodontol. Mar 2009;80(3):429-35. [Medline].
Riccieri V, Sciarra I, Ceccarelli F, et al. Nailfold capillaroscopy abnormalities are associated with the presence of anti-endothelial cell antibodies in Sjogren's syndrome. Rheumatology (Oxford). Jun 2009;48(6):704-6. [Medline].
Owczarek W, Kozera-Zywczyk A, Paluchowska E, Majewski S, Patera J. [Annular erythema as the skin manifestation of primary Sjögren's syndrome--case report]. Pol Merkur Lekarski. Feb 2010;28(164):126-9. [Medline].
Bahous I. [Clinical experiences with tolectin in rheumatic diseases (author's transl)]. Schweiz Rundsch Med Prax. Aug 17 1976;65(33):1025-7. [Medline].
Crestani B, Schneider S, Adle-Biassette H, Debray MP, Bonay M, Aubier M. [Respiratory manifestations during the course of Sjogren's syndrome]. Rev Mal Respir. Apr 2007;24(4 Pt 1):535-51. [Medline].
Ren H, Wang WM, Chen XN, et al. Renal involvement and followup of 130 patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome. J Rheumatol. Feb 2008;35(2):278-84. [Medline].
Lopate G, Pestronk A, Al-Lozi M, et al. Peripheral neuropathy in an outpatient cohort of patients with Sjögren's syndrome. Muscle Nerve. May 2006;33(5):672-6. [Medline].
Tuchocka-Piotrowska A, Puszczewicz M, Kolczewska A, Majewski D. [Graft-versus-host disease as the cause of symptoms mimicking Sjögren's syndrome]. Ann Acad Med Stetin. 2006;52 Suppl 2:89-93. [Medline].
Roberts C, Parker GJ, Rose CJ, et al. Glandular function in Sjögren syndrome: assessment with dynamic contrast-enhanced MR imaging and tracer kinetic modeling--initial experience. Radiology. Mar 2008;246(3):845-53. [Medline].
García-Carrasco M, Ramos-Casals M, Rosas J, Pallarés L, Calvo-Alen J, Cervera R, et al. Primary Sjögren syndrome: clinical and immunologic disease patterns in a cohort of 400 patients. Medicine (Baltimore). Jul 2002;81(4):270-80. [Medline].
Ramos-Casals M, Nardi N, Brito-Zerón P, et al. Atypical autoantibodies in patients with primary Sjögren syndrome: clinical characteristics and follow-up of 82 cases. Semin Arthritis Rheum. Apr 2006;35(5):312-21. [Medline].
Masaki Y, Dong L, Kurose N, Kitagawa K, Morikawa Y, Yamamoto M, et al. Proposal for a new clinical entity, IgG4-positive multi-organ lymphoproliferative syndrome: Analysis of 64 cases of IgG4-related disorders. Ann Rheum Dis. Aug 13 2008;[Medline].
Hamano H, Kawa S, Horiuchi A, Unno H, Furuya N, Akamatsu T, et al. High serum IgG4 concentrations in patients with sclerosing pancreatitis. N Engl J Med. Mar 8 2001;344(10):732-8. [Medline].
Tomosugi N, Kitagawa K, Takahashi N, Sugai S, Ishikawa I. Diagnostic potential of tear proteomic patterns in Sjögren's syndrome. J Proteome Res. May-Jun 2005;4(3):820-5. [Medline].
Montaño-Loza AJ, Crispín-Acuña JC, Remes-Troche JM, Uribe M. Abnormal hepatic biochemistries and clinical liver disease in patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome. Ann Hepatol. Jul-Sep 2007;6(3):150-5. [Medline].
Daniels TE. Labial salivary gland biopsy in Sjögren's syndrome. Assessment as a diagnostic criterion in 362 suspected cases. Arthritis Rheum. Feb 1984;27(2):147-56. [Medline].
Langerman AJ, Blair EA, Sweiss NJ, Taxy JB. Utility of lip biopsy in the diagnosis and treatment of Sjogren's syndrome. Laryngoscope. Jun 2007;117(6):1004-8. [Medline].
Giuca MR, Bonfigli D, Bartoli F, Pasini M. Sjögren's syndrome: correlation between histopathologic result and clinical and serologic parameters. Minerva Stomatol. Apr 2010;59(4):149-54, 154-7. [Medline].
Ramos-Casals M, Font J. Primary Sjögren's syndrome: current and emergent aetiopathogenic concepts. Rheumatology (Oxford). Nov 2005;44(11):1354-67. [Medline].
Katayama I, Kotobuki Y, Kiyohara E, Murota H. Annular erythema associated with Sjögren's syndrome: review of the literature on the management and clinical analysis of skin lesions. Mod Rheumatol. Apr 2010;20(2):123-9. [Medline].
Thanou-Stavraki A, James JA. Primary Sjogren's syndrome: current and prospective therapies. Semin Arthritis Rheum. Apr 2008;37(5):273-92. [Medline].
Moutsopoulos NM, Katsifis GE, Angelov N, Leakan RA, Sankar V, Pillemer S, et al. Lack of efficacy of etanercept in Sjögren syndrome correlates with failed suppression of tumour necrosis factor alpha and systemic immune activation. Ann Rheum Dis. Oct 2008;67(10):1437-43. [Medline].
[Best Evidence] Meijer JM, Meiners PM, Vissink A, Spijkervet FK, Abdulahad W, Kamminga N, et al. Effectiveness of rituximab treatment in primary Sjögren's syndrome: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Arthritis Rheum. Apr 2010;62(4):960-8. [Medline].
Willeke P, Schlüter B, Becker H, Schotte H, Domschke W, Gaubitz M. Mycophenolate sodium treatment in patients with primary Sjögren syndrome: a pilot trial. Arthritis Res Ther. 2007;9(6):R115. [Medline].
Management and therapy of dry eye disease: report of the Management and Therapy Subcommittee of the International Dry Eye WorkShop (2007). Ocul Surf. Apr 2007;5(2):163-78. [Medline].
Behrens A, Doyle JJ, Stern L, Chuck RS, McDonnell PJ, Azar DT, et al. Dysfunctional tear syndrome: a Delphi approach to treatment recommendations. Cornea. Sep 2006;25(8):900-7. [Medline].
Spiteri A, Mitra M, Menon G, et al. Tear lipid layer thickness and ocular comfort with a novel device in dry eye patients with and without Sjögren's syndrome. J Fr Ophtalmol. Apr 2007;30(4):357-64. [Medline].
Egrilmez S, Aslan F, Karabulut G, Kabasakal Y, Yagci A. Clinical efficacy of the smartplug in the treatment of primary Sjogren's syndrome with keratoconjunctivitis SICCA: one-year follow-up study. Rheumatol Int. May 21 2010;[Medline].
[Guideline] American Academy of Ophthalmology. American Academy of Ophthalmology Cornea/External Disease Panel, Preferred Practice Patterns Committee. Dry eye syndrome. National Guidelines Clearinghouse. 2008.
Akpek EK, Lindsley KB, Adyanthaya RS, Swamy R, Baer AN, McDonnell PJ. Treatment of Sjögren's syndrome-associated dry eye an evidence-based review. Ophthalmology. Jul 2011;118(7):1242-52. [Medline].
Jain AK, Sukhija J, Dwedi S, Sood A. Effect of topical cyclosporine on tear functions in tear-deficient dry eyes. Ann Ophthalmol (Skokie). Spring 2007;39(1):19-25. [Medline].
Daniels TE, Fox PC. Salivary and oral components of Sjögren's syndrome. Rheum Dis Clin North Am. Aug 1992;18(3):571-89. [Medline].
Dass S, Bowman SJ, Vital EM, et al. Reduction of fatigue in Sjögren syndrome with rituximab: results of a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study. Ann Rheum Dis. Nov 2008;67(11):1541-4. [Medline].
Pijpe J, van Imhoff GW, Spijkervet FK, et al. Rituximab treatment in patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome: an open-label phase II study. Arthritis Rheum. Sep 2005;52(9):2740-50. [Medline].
Meijer JM, Pijpe J, Vissink A, Kallenberg CG, Bootsma H. Treatment of primary Sjogren syndrome with rituximab: extended follow-up, safety and efficacy of retreatment. Ann Rheum Dis. Feb 2009;68(2):284-5. [Medline].

