Early diagnosis and treatment are important for preventing complications. Unfortunately, reaching a diagnosis can often be difficult and has been found to take an average of 6.5 years from the onset of symptoms.

Sjögren’s syndrome symptoms frequently overlap with or “mimic” those of other diseases including lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, and multiple sclerosis. Dryness can also occur for other reasons, such as a side effect of medications such as anti-depressants and high blood pressure medication.

There is no single test that will confirm diagnosis. Rheumatologists have primary responsibility for diagnosing and managing Sjögren’s syndrome and can conduct a series of tests and ask about symptoms. An international group of experts formulated classification criteria for Sjögren’s syndrome which help doctors arrive at a diagnosis. These criteria consider dryness symptoms, changes in salivary (mouth) and lacrimal (eye) gland function, and systemic (whole body) findings.

Blood tests your physician may perform include:

• ANA (Anti-Nuclear Antibody)
  ANAs are a group of antibodies that react against normal components of a cell nucleus. About 70% of Sjögren’s patients have a positive ANA test result.
• RF (Rheumatoid Factor)
  This antibody test is indicative of a most often performed for the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA)  but is positive in many rheumatic diseases. In Sjögren’s patients, 60-70% have a positive RF.
• SS-A (or Ro) and SS-B (or La)
  These are the marker antibodies for Sjögren's. Seventy percent of Sjögren’s patients are positive for SS-A and 40% are positive for SS-B (these may also found in lupus patients).
• ESR (Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate)
  This test measures inflammation. An elevated ESR indicates the presence of an inflammatory disorder, including Sjögren’s syndrome.
• IGs (Immunoglobulins)
  These are normal blood proteins that participate in immune reactions and are usually elevated in Sjögren’s patients.

The ophthalmologic (eye) tests include:

• Schirmer Test
  Measures tear production.
• Rose Bengal and Lissamine Green
  Eyedrops containing dyes that an eye care specialist uses to examine the surface of the eye for dry spots.

The dental tests include:

• Salivary Flow
  Measures the amount of saliva produced over a certain period of time.
• Salivary scintigraphy
  A nuclear medicine test that measures salivary gland function.
• Salivary gland biopsy (usually in the lower lip)
  Confirms inflammatory cell (lymphocytic) infiltration of the minor salivary glands.

Your physician will consider the results of these tests along with your physical examination to arrive at a final diagnosis. Further research is being conducted to refine the diagnostic criteria for Sjögren’s syndrome and to help make diagnosis easier and more accurate.