Painless Test Using Teardrops May Speed Diagnosis Of Sjögren's Syndrome

Researchers in Japan are developing a faster, more accurate diagnostic test for Sjögren’s (SHOW-grins) syndrome, an incurable autoimmune disorder characterized by chronically dry eyes and dry mouth. The noninvasive test, which analyzes multiple protein biomarkers in the tears using highly sensitive mass spectrometry, shows promise in early clinical studies as the first simple test for identifying the disease, the scientists say. Sjögren’s affects between 1 million and 4 million Americans, primarily women over age 40. April is Sjögren’s Syndrome Awareness Month. The study will be described in the June 13 print issue of the American Chemical Society’s Journal of Proteome Research, a peer-reviewed publication. ACS is the world’s largest scientific society.