Explainer: what is Sjögren’s syndrome, the condition Venus Williams lives with?

Sjögren’s syndrome hit the headlines when US tennis player Venus Williams declared she was suffering from it. What is Sjögren’s syndrome? How do you pronounce it anyway? And is there a cure? What is it? Sjögren’s syndrome, pronounced “Showgren’s syndrome”, is what doctors call a chronic systemic autoimmune disease. It’s when the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks itself, leading to healthy tissues being destroyed. It’s chronic because it lasts for a long time, and systemic as it affects different organs. Read more: Explainer: what are autoimmune diseases? It can occur on its own, when it’s known as primary Sjögren’s syndrome, or with another autoimmune condition, such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, or systemic sclerosis, and is then called secondary or associated Sjögren’s syndrome. Like most autoimmune diseases, there

From http://theconversation.com/explainer-what-is-sjogrens-syndrome-the-condition-venus-williams-lives-with-111250

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