Sjögren’s Syndrome & The Autonomic Nervous System - Brent Goodman, MD

In this lecture, Dr. Brent Goodman discusses the complex relationship between Sjögren's syndrome and the autonomic nervous system. He emphasizes that Sjögren's, though under-recognized, can significantly impair the autonomic nervous system, leading to symptoms such as dysautonomia and potentially POTS. Dr. Goodman critiques the existing diagnostic criteria for Sjögren's, highlighting their insensitivity, and mentions the potential for immunotherapy in treatment. He also discusses the challenges in distinguishing between primary and secondary causes of POTS and examines the possibility of an autoimmune basis for some POTS cases. Autonomic failure can be severe in Sjögren’s, affecting various body systems, and he urges better diagnosis and treatment approaches, including the use of immunotherapies like IVIG and rituximab, which have shown symptomatic and autonomic system improvements in some patients.