Abstract
Abstract: :
Purpose: To analyse who diagnoses Sjogren’s Syndrome (SS); treatments used, the level of comfort gained and frequency of application required, and preparations which have been discontinued. Methods: A retrospective non–interventional observational survey of the British Sjogren’s Syndrome Association (BSSA). 2200 members were sent a questionnaire. Subjects recorded their current medications (steroids, disease modifying anti–rheumatoid drugs (DMARDs) and artificial tear substitutes) and what topical treatments were beneficial. 1087 respondents took part, a 49.4% response rate (6.7% males, 93.3% females) with age range of 17–91years. Results: The diagnosing practitioner was a cross–specialty mix including dentists and cardiologists. 30.4% considered themselves to have Primary SS, 68.3% Secondary SS and 1.3% unknown. 8.5% of secondary SS took prednisolone, 16.6% DMARDs or 9.3% took both. The most common DMARD was hydroxychloroquine (112/123). 24 individuals took oral pilocarpine. 4.8% (53/1087) of this cohort did not use any topical preparations. Of 1034 that used topicals, 51.8% (531/1034) used a single preparation: Hypromellose being the most common (45.6%), Viscotears 18.8%, Liquifilm 8.7%, Lacrilube 3.2%. 51.4% had discontinued one or more topicals due to inadequate benefit. Conclusions: A front–line subjective view of the preferred preparations in SS is presented: showing that only a relatively select number of medications are used regularly. Exploring the subjective benefits and drawbacks of different tear substitutes can help improve patient comfort. As dry eye prescribing is on a hierarchal approach it is not surprising that 51.4% of the cohort discontinued one or more topical agent.
Keywords: autoimmune disease • autoimmune disease • autoimmune disease