Sensorineural Hearing Loss in Sjogren's Syndrome

Sjogren's syndrome is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by systemic dysfunction of exocrine glands, mainly the salivary and lachrymal glands. Sjogren's syndrome consists of two forms: primary Sjogren's syndrome, which is characterized by dry eyes and dry mouth without autoimmune diseases; and secondary Sjogren's syndrome, which is characterized by symptoms associated with other autoimmune diseases, such as systemic lupus erythematosus. Disease severities vary considerably from mild glandular dryness to severe glandular involvement with numerous extraglandular and systemic features. Sensorineural hearing loss is sometimes observed in both primary and secondary Sjogren's syndrome. This review article consists of (1) Pathology of Sjogren's syndrome, (2) Clinical manifestation of Sjogren's syndrome, (3) Autoimmune inner ear disease, (4) Histoanatomical features of the inner ear, (5) Immunological characteristics of the inner ear, (6) Pathophysiology of autoimmune inner ear disease, (7) Treatment for sensorineural hearing loss in Sjogren's syndrome, and (8) Future direction. Finally, we introduce a recently developed disease model of salivary gland inflammation and discuss future expectations for the treatment of sensorineural hearing loss in Sjogren's syndrome.

Automated summary

Sjogren's syndrome is a chronic autoimmune disease that affects the salivary and lachrymal glands. It can be classified into primary and secondary forms, with varying degrees of severity. Sensorineural hearing loss can occur in some cases. This review article provides a comprehensive overview of the pathology, clinical manifestations, inner ear diseases, immunological characteristics, pathophysiology, treatment options, and future directions of Sjogren's syndrome.