Recommendations of Brazilian Society of Rheumatology for the Treatment of Sjogren's Syndrome

Objectives Recommendations of Brazilian Society of Rheumatology for the treatment of Sjogren9s syndrome (SS) were developed to guide management of SS considering the Brazilian social and economic context. Methods It was based on specialist9s opinion and systematic review on MEDLINE (PubMed) and Cochrane database until October 2014, including 127 articles classified according Oxford u0026 Grade. Results Forty-four recommendations were organized in 3 main topics: Part 1. General recommendations and patient education: The management of SS should be conducted by multidisciplinary team. Systemic treatment should be according disease severity measured by EULAR Sjogren9s Syndrome Disease Activity (ESSDAI). Patients should avoid caffeine, tobacco, alcohol, toothpaste with abrasive, and mouthrinses with alcohol. Patient should be educated about preventive measures for oral health and hydration. Aerobic exercise improves fatigue and quality of life. Immunization to influenza and pneumococo are indicated. Serum levels of vitamin D should be evaluated and supplemented if it is necessary. Part 2. Symptomatic treatment of dryness: Topical treatment for dry mouth includes saliva substitutes, sugar-free candies and gums. Topical treatments for dry eye are lubricants (glucanes or carboximethylcelulose), cyclosporine 0.05%, and punctual occlusion. Topical glucocorticoids may be used for severe dry eye for short time avoiding complications. Pilocarpine and cevimeline should be used for dry mouth and for severe dry eye. N-acetylcysteine may be used for dryness symptoms, including patients showing intolerance for muscarinic agonists. Omega-3 supplementation may be used to dry eye. Part 3. Systemic treatment: Immunosupressant and/or biological therapy are not indicated to dryness treatment. Hydroxichloroquine, glucocorticoid, and immunossupressants (azathioprine, mycophenolate mofetil, cyclophosphamide, cyclosporine) should be indicated according severity of systemic involvement. Rituximab is indicated to treat systemic manifestations without improvement with immunosuppressive therapy. Abatacept and belimumab may be considered in patients not responding to rituximab and with high level of disease activity. Acknowledgements Sociedade Brasileira de Reumatologia (SBR) Disclosure of Interest None declared