Sjogren's Anti SS-A and SS-B Blood Test

Sjögren syndrome is an autoimmune disorder in which the body's immune system mistakenly reacts to the tissue in glands that produce moisture, such as tear and salivary glands. It is a chronic, inflammatory disease that often progresses to a more complex, systemic disorder that can affect other tissues and organs in the body such as joints, skin, kidneys, lungs, nervous system, and the intestinal tract. Sjögren syndrome is characterized by an unusual accumulation (infiltration) of a particular type of white blood cell, lymphocytes, in the glands that are responsible for fluid production. 

Examples of some of the signs and symptoms include:

• Decreased sense of taste and smell
• Dry cough
• Dry gritty eyes
• Dry mouth with difficulty swallowing or talking
• Dry skin and rashes
• Fatigue
• Joint pain and swelling
• Muscle pain
• Numbness or tingling in the hands or feet (neuropathy)
• Sore tongue or throat
• Swollen salivary (parotid) glands
• Vaginal dryness
• Stomach upset, irritable bowel
• Recurrent bronchitis or pneumonia

SS-A(Ro) is found in 60% to 70% of patients with Sjogren's syndrome and 30% to 40% of patients with SLE. SS-B(La) is found in 50% to 60% of SjC6gren's syndrome and 10% to 15% of SLE. SS-A cannot be demonstrated by immunofluorescence (it is soluble in the buffers used) but SS-B may be seen as a speckled antinuclear pattern. SS-A and SS-B are particularly useful in bANA negativeb cases of SLE, being present in a majority of such cases. Patients who are ANA positive and who have SS-A but not SS-B are very likely to have nephritis. Antibodies to SS-A are also associated with HLA loci DR3 and DR2 and with hereditary deficiency of C2. Anti-SS-A and anti-SS-B are found in virtually all children with neonatal lupus. Patients with SS-A may also have antibodies to cardiolipin, lupus anticoagulant, and clinical thromboses. This has been termed antiphospholipid antibody syndrome.