[Sjögren's syndrome].

Sjögren's syndrome(SS) is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by keratoconjunctivitis sicca and xerostomia. According to the epidemiological survey done by the Japan Ministry of Health and Welfare(MHW) in 1994, about 17,000 SS patients visit hospitals and the prevalence rate is approximately 0.06% for females. SS is diagnosed mainly by the criteria of MHW in 1977, and the revised ones will be published in the near future. Several candidates for the corresponding antigens for SS autoimmunity have discovered, such as alpha-fodrin and 203-211 amino acid residues of Ro/SSA-52 kDa. The sicca complex is treated with fluid replacement, but corticosteroids or immunosuppressive drugs are sometimes indicated in the treatment of extraglandular involvement. Several new drugs are now under investigation.