Autoimmune Disease

In autoimmune disease (AID), the body’s immune system produces antibodies that attack the body’s own tissues. The attack can be against a single organ or be systemic in nature. There is evidence that indicates that over 100 varieties of AID exist, some of which have salivary gland implications. Sjögren syndrome (SS) is the AID that most frequently hones in on the salivary glands. Primary SS is marked by the presence of hyposalivation and xerophthalmia, while secondary SS occurs in the presence of another systemic AID such as rheumatoid arthritis or lupus erythematosus. In addition to SS, AIDs such as IgG4 related disease, primary biliary cholangitis, graft vs host disease, diabetes, autoimmune thyroid disease and myasthenia gravis are known to have salivary gland ramifications.