Can Sjögren's Disease affect my kidneys?

Yes, Sjögren's Disease can indeed have an impact on your kidneys. The frequency of kidney involvement in Sjögren's Disease varies widely, with reports ranging from 1 to 33 percent. However, most studies suggest that kidney manifestations are present in approximately 5 to 14 percent of patients with Sjögren's Disease. It's important to note that these statistics can vary based on the nature of the study and the definition used for kidney disease.

One of the complications associated with Sjögren's Disease is distal renal tubular acidosis, which is often treated with alkali substances like bicarbonate or citrate salts to manage the acidosis and prevent the formation of kidney stones.

If there's a decrease in renal function or significant proteinuria (excessive protein in the urine), a renal biopsy may be necessary. The biopsy could reveal conditions like tubulointerstitial nephritis or glomerulonephritis, which generally necessitate treatment with corticosteroids as the initial therapy. The role of long-term, steroid-sparing immunosuppressive agents is currently undefined. A condition known as cryoglobulinemic glomerulonephritis, which can be related to Sjögren's Disease, usually has a poor prognosis and requires more aggressive therapy, often involving a combination of corticosteroids with other drugs like cyclophosphamide or rituximab.