What are the differences between Sjogren's and Lupus?

[plunk656]

I know that they share a lot of the same things, but how can a doctor tell the difference between the two? Thank you for your help in advance.

[Scottietottie]

Hello Plunk 

Classic symptoms of SjS are dry mouth and dry eyes. They are not a classic symptom of Lupus. Lupus is more likely to attack internal organs than SjS is but SjS can do so, as you will have read in here. Classic Lupus is a butterfly rash on the face and a raised anti-dsDNA blood reading. As you've said - lots of symtoms overlap and are pretty well impossible to untangle.

I have 'lupus' blood (but no 'butterfly') and Sjogren's symptoms and have been dxd as lupus/SjS overlap.

As far as I know the treatment for both is pretty similar. Being treated one way for one would not be detrimental to the other.

Take care - Scottie 

[Nadmcd]

Scottie,