The Pathogenesis and Natural History of Sjogren's Disease

Background:

-Sjogren s Disease (formerly: Sjogrens Syndrome, Sj(SqrRoot)(Delta)gren s syndrome) is a disease that affects about 1-4 million Americans. It is more common in women. It mainly affects the glands that produce saliva and tears, leading to dry eyes and dry mouth. The cause of Sjogren s Disease is unknown, but inflammation plays an important role. The purpose of this study is to learn more about Sjogren s Disease.

Objectives:

-To better understand how Sjogren s Disease begins and how it affects patients so that we can develop better ways to treat them.

Eligibility:

• Participants must be 16 years of age or older.
• They must have a diagnosis of Sjogren s Disease or have at least two symptoms of Sjogren s Disease.

Design:

• People taking part in the study will come to the NIH Clinical Center for at least three visits.
• During these visits, participants will have a medical history and physical exam. They will have oral and dental assessments, and saliva collection. Lab tests (blood and urine) and dry eye exams will be done. Participants will answer questionnaires and have salivary scintigraphy (adults only unless required for diagnosis).
• Other optional tests may also be done. Participants may have to come in for additional visits if they have these optional tests or if their disease changes.
• The only treatment provided as part of this study is for medical emergencies or complications that occur while you are at NIH for evaluation.

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Sjogren's Syndrome; Pathogenesis; Salivary Gland

Detailed Description

Background

Sjogren's Disease (SjD; formely Sjogren's Syndrome) is an autoimmune disease characterized by chronic inflammation involving the exocrine glands. Salivary and lacrimal glands are predominantly affected leading to dry mouth and dry eyes but other exocrine organs are also frequently involved. It is one of the most common rheumatic autoimmune diseases, which effects between 1-4 million Americans, predominantly women with a female to male ratio of 9:1. Sjogren s Disease may occur alone (primary SjD), or may coexist with other systemic connective tissue disorders (i.e., secondary SjD). In many cases systemic manifestations, such as fatigue, arthritis, vasculitis, lung disease, peripheral or central neuropathy and autonomic nervous system dysfunction accompany glandular involvement. Patients with systemic manifestations are at higher risk of lymphoma, the incidence of which is increased in SjD. The treatment of sicca symptoms is mainly symptomatic, whereas management of extraglandular manifestations is similar to other autoimmune diseases.

The cause and pathogenesis of Sjogren's Disease is still largely unknown. In a genetically predisposed individual various environmental factors, such as viral infections, may lead to epithelial cell activation and a protracted inflammatory response with features of autoimmunity. Autoreactive lymphocytes and autoantibodies are considered important in this process although the pathogenic role of any particular autoantibody is still undefined. Although inflammation may contribute to the exocrinopathy of SjD, the relationship between inflammation and exocrine dysfunction is poorly understood. Moreover, the model does not explain many of the extraglandular manifestations of SjD patients, such as fatigue. Further studies are needed to better understand the pathogenesis of SjD.

Objectives

The primary objective of this study is to enable the collection of longitudinal clinical and laboratory data and biologic specimens to identify pathogenetic mechanisms of SjD by careful clinical phenotyping of SjD patients and Sjogren's-like conditions over time and collection of biologic samples for concurrent and future laboratory studies related to the pathogenesis of Sjogren's Disease. Another objective of the study is to identify biomarker candidates associated with the diagnosis, severity, prognosis, or organ involvement in SjD. The protocol will enable the study of the genetic basis and the mechanistic aspects of immunologic and non-immunologic abnormalities of SjD and their associations with various clinical phenotypes.

Eligibility Criteria

The study will enroll 300 subjects with Sjogren s Disease or Sjogren's-like conditions. Subjects aged 16-years or older fulfilling European American Consensus Criteria for Primary or Secondary Sjogren s Disease are eligible for the study. Selected subjects with incomplete Sjogren's Disease or who are excluded from the European American criteria may also be eligible. Screening will be done on the Characterization of Diseases with Salivary Gland Involvement protocol (15-D-0051) prospectively or on the previous screening protocol (84-D-0056).

Description of the Study

This is a longitudinal observational study. All subjects will have core evaluations (approximately biannually) during a 10-year period. Additional evaluations may be required if there is a significant change in the clinical condition of subjects likely related to SjD or sicca syndrome or to provide additional research samples or clinical data for the pathogenesis studies. Clinical data will be collected through questionnaires, personal interviews, physical examination, laboratory testing and imaging studies. The core evaluation will include a complete medical history and physical examination and a complete oral and dry eye evaluation. Blood, saliva and biopsy samples will be stored and used for laboratory research studies aimed at the pathogenesis of Sjogren s Disease. Samples labeled with a code without any personal identifiers may be shared with researchers in and outside the NIH. DNA will be collected for genetic studies related to Sjogren's' syndrome and related conditions.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Estimated): 300

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Eileen M Pelayo; Phone Number: (301) 594-3097; Email: eileen.pelayo@nih.gov
• Study Contact Backup: Name: Zohreh Khavandgar, D.D.S.; Phone Number: (301) 496-4486; Email: zohreh.khavandgar@nih.gov

Study Locations

• United States
  • Maryland
    • Bethesda, Maryland, United States, 20892
      • Recruiting
      • National Institutes of Health Clinical Center

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 16 years and older (Child, Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

The population consists of patients who have completed our Sjogren's screening protocol (15-D-0051) and are deemed eligible to enroll in this pathogenesis protocol.

Description

• INCLUSION CRITERIA:

  1. Ability to sign informed consent form

  2. Fulfilling one the definitions below:

     1. Sjogren s defined by European-American (EA) classification criteria for primary or secondary Sjogren s Disease (SjD group)
     2. Excluded from the EA criteria because of a comorbid condition but otherwise fulfilling the European-American classification criteria (EA excluded SjD group)
     3. Incomplete SjD

     i. at least 2 of the EA criteria with a common manifestation of SjD not included in these criteria (e.g., fatigue, vasculitis, arthritis, etc) or

     ii. 2 or more common manifestations of SjD which are not included in the EA criteria (e.g.,: fatigue, vasculitis, arthritis, autonomic dysfunction, etc ) and are not explained by other conditions

     EXCLUSION CRITERIA:

  1. Age <16 years
  2. inability or unwillingness to comply with follow up requirements
  3. Any medical or psychological/psychiatric condition or treatment that, in the opinion of the Principal Investigator, would exclude the subjects from the research studies (e.g., alternative explanation for subjects signs and symptoms)
  4. NIH employees who report directly to the principal investigator or who are a co-worker or relative of the principal investigator.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Observational Models: Cohort
• Time Perspectives: Prospective

Number of groups / cohorts

3

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
incomplete sjogren's; patients who meet criteria as incomplete sjogren's
primary sjogren's; patients who meet criteria for classification for primary sjogren's
secondary sjogren's; patients who meet classification criteria for secondary sjogren's

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Clinical phenotyping of SjD patients and controls over time Collection of samples for concurrent and future laboratory studies related to the pathogenesis Identification of biomarker candidates in SjD	following the natural history of Sjogren's disease progression.	patients are followed up to 10 years

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Time Frame
1. To establish a teaching cohort of patients with SjD or SjD-like conditions treated with conventional treatments 2. To identify patients for other protocols related to Sjogren's Disease	Ongoing

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR)
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Zohreh Khavandgar, D.D.S., National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR)

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Burbelo PD, Ferre EMN, Chaturvedi A, Chiorini JA, Alevizos I, Lionakis MS, Warner BM. Profiling Autoantibodies against Salivary Proteins in Sicca Conditions. J Dent Res. 2019 Jul;98(7):772-778. doi: 10.1177/0022034519850564. Epub 2019 May 16.

Helpful Links

• NIH Clinical Center Detailed Web Page

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): January 18, 2012

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: August 27, 2011
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: August 27, 2011
• First Posted (Estimated): August 30, 2011

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): June 18, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 17, 2026
• Last Verified: March 17, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Natural History; Pathogenesis; Sjogren's Syndrome; Salivary Gland; Sjogrens Syndrome; Sj(SqrRoot)(Delta)gren s syndrome
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Musculoskeletal Diseases; Mouth Diseases; Stomatognathic Diseases; Arthritis; Joint Diseases; Rheumatic Diseases; Connective Tissue Diseases; Autoimmune Diseases; Immune System Diseases; Eye Diseases; Arthritis, Rheumatoid; Xerostomia; Salivary Gland Diseases; Dry Eye Syndromes; Lacrimal Apparatus Diseases; Skin and Connective Tissue Diseases; Sjogren's Syndrome
• Other Study ID Numbers: 110172; 11-D-0172

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO
• IPD Plan Description: This is a natural history study that began enrolling in 2011. De-identified data will be made public consistent with the policies of the NIH.

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No