When diagnosed as a self-immunizing disease with a dry syndrome, many patients wonder whether they have the disease because they are too low. However, the facts are not simple.
Dry syndrome is a complex self-immunizing disease, with a inherently different mechanism from low immunity. Under normal circumstances, the human immune system, like a loyal guardian, is able to identify and defend against alien pathogens such as bacteria and viruses, and to protect the health of the body. In the case of dry syndrome patients, however, there was an “disorder” in the immune system, which mistook its own tissue as an external “enemy”, in which excrete bodies such as tear and saliva became the main targets.
B lymphocyte abnormality in the immune system produces a large number of antibodies, such as anti-SSA and anti-SSB antibodies, that are combined with antigens on the excrete body and cause an immune response. As inflammation persists, damage to gland tissues, such as tear and saliva, gradually loses normal genre functions, which in turn leads to typical symptoms such as eye drying, mouth drying and, in serious cases, other organs, such as skin, respiratory tracts, digestive tracts and kidneys, causing a number of complications.
The causes of the dry syndrome are not yet entirely clear, but research has shown that genetic factors play a role. Certain specific genetic variations may increase the vulnerability of individuals to immune system anomalies and increase the risk of disease. In addition, environmental factors such as viral infections (e.g. EB viruses, retrovirals, etc.) may also act as triggers to initiate the wrong attack pattern of the immune system. At the same time, changes in endocrine factors, especially female hormonal levels, are closely related to the incidence of dry syndrome, which is one of the reasons why there are significantly more women than men.
Although the drying syndrome is not caused by low immune capacity, the local defence function of the body is affected by the impairment of the excreta gland function, for example, an eye dry may make the eye more vulnerable to infection and increase the risk of eye diseases such as conjunctivitis and carnival, which can affect the self-hythmic ability of the mouth and lead to a high incidence of oral problems such as tooth decay and toothitis.
For the treatment of dry syndrome, the focus is not on increasing immunity, but on regulating a disturbed immune system, controlling inflammatory response, mitigating symptoms and preventing further organ damage. Depending on the patient ‘ s specific condition, doctors will introduce individualized treatment programmes, including the use of artificial tear, saliva substitutes to mitigate eye drying and dryness; the use of immunosuppressants, sugary hormonals, etc. to inhibit overactive immune systems and to mitigate the damage to the glands and other organs by inflammation; and, in cases of complications, the treatment of specific complications, such as pulmonary fibrosis, renal tube acid poisoning, etc.
Dry syndrome is not a result of low levels of immunity, but of self-immunisation caused by system disorders. Understanding the nature of the disease helps patients to understand their condition properly, to cooperate actively with doctors in their treatment, to better manage the disease, to improve the quality of life, to find a way of life and coping strategies appropriate to themselves in the fight against the disease, to remain optimistic and to meet the challenges of life.
