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Q:

Tara from Edmonton asks:  I tested positive for Sjogren’s syndrome and Rheumatoid Arthritis.  Can you please tell me something about them?

Sjogren’s syndrome is an autoimmune disease with its most common symptom being dry eyes and dry mouth.  Read here for more on rheumatoid arthritis, and check out this previous answer for more information.  However, you should know there is no definitive test for rheumatoid arthritis or Sjogren’s syndrome.  There are tests that are associated with these conditions, but they are not definitive.  To make a diagnosis of most rheumatic diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis and Sjogren’s syndrome, an expert in these conditions needs to take a good history and complete a physical examination; then, it is appropriate to look at any investigations and determine how they best fit all together.  There are many patients we see who test “positive” for these blood tests, but don’t have – and may never have – a rheumatic disease.



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