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Updated: Mar 17, 2026

Author Spotlight: A Focus on Standardized Salivary Gland Ultrasound Protocol in Connective Tissue Disease Research
Published on: October 13, 2023
Salivary Gland Pathology in Sjögren's Syndrome
Joana Campos1, Maarten R Hillen2, Francesca Barone1
1Centre for Translational Inflammation Research, Institute of Inflammation and Ageing, ARUK Center for the Pathogenesis of Rheumatoid Arthritis, University of Birmingham, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Mindelsohn Way, Birmingham B15 2WB, UK.
Abstract:
Primary Sjögren syndrome (pSS) can be considered a systemic autoimmune disease with a strong organ bias. The involvement of the exocrine glands is prevalent and drives the pathognomonic manifestations of dryness that define the sicca syndrome. The salivary glands also represent the hub of pSS pathology. Elements belonging to both innate and acquired immune responses have been described at this site that contribute to disease establishment and progression. The interaction between those elements and their relative contributions to the clinical manifestations and lymphoma progression largely remain to be addressed.
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