Sjögren’s Program
Why choose UCLA Health for your Sjögren's care?
Here at UCLA, we provide expert multi-disciplinary care to help patients living with Sjögren’s disease. Our team of specialists include physicians from Rheumatology, Ophthalmology, Head and Neck Surgery and Neuromuscular department.
Our team of rheumatologists also offer targeted clinic visits for Sjögren’s diagnostic testing, which involves Schirmer’s and unstimulated salivary flow tests. Moreover, we have ultrasound-trained rheumatologists who can perform salivary gland ultrasound for further evaluation. We are also involved in cutting-edge research to expand the horizons of Sjögren’s disease diagnosis and treatment.
Sjögren's Disease Testing
Schirmer Test
This test involves measuring tear gland production for 5 minutes using a paper strip. You may be asked to stop using eye drops and other medications prior to this test.
Unstimulated Salivary Flow
This test evaluates total production of fluids made by your salivary glands. You will be asked to sit quietly without swallowing for 5 minutes in order to measure how much saliva you can produce. You may be asked to stop certain medications prior to this test.
Ocular Surface Staining (OSS)
This is a procedure commonly performed by an eye doctor. It involves using a dye to look for signs of damage or dryness in the eye. They may examine the eye under blue light or other specialized lighting.
Cutaneous Nerve Skin Biopsy
This is a minimally invasive procedure that can help diagnose small-fiber sensory neuropathy by obtaining a small sample of your skin. The skin sample is then sent and examined in the pathology lab.
Salivary Gland Ultrasound
Salivary gland ultrasound is increasingly becoming a part of routine Sjögren’s care. Its relatively non-invasive profile assists in diagnosis, but also helps physicians and patients gain an understanding of disease state and progression.
Research Highlights
Our team of clinical and research experts work together to advance an understanding of Sjögren’s Disease (in both individuals and the disease as a whole), both at the individual level and in the broader context of the disease. Patients who are part of our clinical care team have the option to provide extra blood or tissue samples for observational research purposes over time. This is voluntary and will only be done when patients are already getting receiving such tests for clinical care. Participating in research is not charged to patients. There is no cost to patients for participating in research.
We are passionate about clinical bedside-to-bench research, hoping it would lead to with the goal of developing new precision medicine-based methodologies for the field. Please inquire more about what we are doing at this time.
