16 April 2024
We have published an updated and expanded guideline providing evidence-based recommendations for the management of adult and juvenile onset Sjögren disease (SD).
Elizabeth Price, who led the guideline development, said:
“We hope the guideline will enable non-specialists to work with patients to provide holistic treatment and management of Sjögren disease in the best possible way. This is a systemic disease and affects different parts of the system. Managing eye disease, mouth disease, vaginal dryness, and so on, is vital to personalise care.”
To accompany the guideline, an easy-access summary sheet has also been produced and is free to download.
Coziana Ciurtin, consultant in adult and adolescent rheumatology, said:
“This is a first at an international level - there is no other guideline that looks at Sjögren disease across all ages. We recognise the need to incorporate recommendations for an under-diagnosed disease phenotype that starts in younger patients, who present slightly differently and may have different needs. We aim to support all clinicians and allied health professionals in diagnosing and looking after these younger patients.”
We have also extended the data capture for the National Early Inflammatory Arthritis Audit (NEIAA) to include patients with newly diagnosed connective tissue disease, including SD. In order to understand the incidence of this condition across the UK, we are encouraging input of all newly diagnosed patients into the NEIAA database.
The SD guideline which is now accessible on our website, was developed by members from rheumatology, with adult, adolescent and paediatric specialists, alongside a diverse working group consisting of GP, occupational therapy, ophthalmology, renal specialists, and experts by experience.
Dr Marwin Bukhari is host for our latest episode of Rheumatology Roundtable, where Liz Price, Coziana Ciurtin, and Bridget Crampton—an expert by experience— join for an insightful discussion on the latest updates to SD guideline and its potential impact on patients.