Immunological Tests
These blood tests check for antibodies that are commonly found in the blood of people with
Sjogren's syndrome. For example:
- Antithyroid antibodies are created when antibodies migrate out of the salivary glands into the thyroid gland. Antithyroid antibodies cause thyroiditis (inflammation of the thyroid), a common problem in people with Sjogren's.
- Immunoglobulins and gamma globulins are antibodies that everyone has in their blood, but people with Sjogren's usually have too many of them.
- Rheumatoid factors (RFs) are found in the blood of people with rheumatoid arthritis, as well as in people with Sjogren's. Substances known as cryoglobulins may be detected; these indicate risk of lymphoma.
- Similarly, the presence of antinuclear antibodies (ANAs) can indicate an autoimmune disorder, including Sjogren's.
- Sjogren's antibodies, called SS-A (or SS-Ro) and SS-B (or SS-La), are specific antinuclear antibodies that are common in people with Sjogren's; however, you can have Sjogren's without having these ANAs.
X-Ray
Sjogren's can cause inflammation in the lungs, so the doctor may want to take a chest x-ray to check them.
Urinalysis
The doctor will probably test a sample of your urine to see how well the kidneys are working.
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