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Medical Author:

Kanchan Pema, MD

Medical Editor:

William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

Dr. Shiel received a Bachelor of Science degree with honors from the University of Notre Dame. There he was involved in research in radiation biology and received the Huisking Scholarship. After graduating from St. Louis University School of Medicine, he completed his Internal Medicine residency and Rheumatology fellowship at the University of California, Irvine. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology.

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Most people with Sjögren's syndrome have no major organ involvement and do well. For people who have related conditions as well as Sjögren's syndrome, the outlook is tied more closely to the related condition than to the Sjögren's syndrome. Sjögren's syndrome does, however, have potentially serious complications. They include the following:

• Lymphoma: This is cancer of the lymphatic system, which includes lymph nodes. Some research has shown that the risk of developing lymphoma is higher in people with Sjögren's syndrome than in the general population. The average time between diagnosis of Sjögren's syndrome and appearance of the lymphoma is seven and a half years. The most common symptom of lymphoma is a large mass or swelling in the neck, under an arm, or in the groin. Other symptoms include pain, numbness, or tingling in an arm or leg, fatigue, unexplained fevers or night sweats, and unexplained weight loss.



• Infection of the parotid gland: This usually is signaled by swelling, pain, redness, and warmth on one side of the face, typically along the jawline. Heat and massage, locally applied to the parotid glands on the sides of the jaw, can help and prevent this complication.



• Parotid tumors: One of the parotid glands becomes enlarged and unusually hard.



• Problems in offspring: Children born to women with Sjögren's syndrome have greater-than-normal risks for newborn lupus and congenital heart block.

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