Oklahoma Sjögren’s Syndrome Center of Research Translation (OSSCORT)

Sjögren’s syndrome (SS) is a chronic, progressive autoimmune disorder characterized by lymphocytic infiltration of the exocrine glands that leads to severe oral and ocular dryness. SS is also a systemic disease that may include debilitating fatigue, lymphoma, neuropathies, pulmonary disease and arthralgias. The etiology of SS is poorly understood but clearly involves a complex genetic architecture influenced by environmental factors that lead to abnormal cellular and humoral immune responses. The difficulty in correctly diagnosing SS in addition to the scarcity of effective therapeutic options, often results in significant morbidity and irreversible damage to the exocrine glands.