ANTI SSB – ANTI SJöGREN SYNDROME TYPE B:
Why Anti-Sjogren Syndrome test?
CLINICAL INFORMATION :
Anti-Sjogren Syndrome is an autoimmune disorder. These test are performed to detect specific autoantibodies against anti-Ro (SS-A) and anti-La (SS-B), rheumatoid factor and antinuclear antibodies. Since there isn’t one single test that can confirm this syndrome hence careful review of the symptoms are needed to rule out any other potential cause by specialists such as rheumatologist, ophthalmologist, oral medicine to look for key elements of this disease like insufficient film or aqueous humor production on the eyes to keep it moist causing dry eyes, dry mouth due to decreased salivary secretions can trigger dry cough, salivary gland inflammation, underlying autoimmune disorders (blood specimen ample for ELISA test to detect auto-antibodies) causing fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, dry skin, joint pain and swelling, swollen salivary glands such as parotid glands, neuropathy, vaginal dryness, stomach upset and inflammatory bowel disease, recurrent bronchitis or pneumonia, etc, are few of the symptoms noticed to reach a diagnosis for Sjogren syndrome. Confirmatory tests need biopsy sample specimens. Complications of Sjogren syndrome are salivary gland infection or tumors, periodontal or dental damages, oral thrush inside the mouth cavity, damage to the eyes, kidney disease, lung infections, lymphoma, and miscarriages in pregnant women. Other tests include CRP, ESR, complete blood count, comprehensive metabolic panel and liver panel, serum protein electrophoresis, blood tests for antinuclear antibody (ANA), Anti-dsDNA, Schirmer’s test to check if tear glands are producing enough tears to keep eyes moist. Ocular surface staining to look closely at the surface of the eyes for dryness or damage, salivary gland function scan (sialometry), biopsies to examine for inflammation of the glands that produce saliva and tears, ultrasonography of salivary glands to reveal characteristic structural changes if caused by this syndrome, rheumatoid factor to check if its positive.
General instructions:
Sample Requirement: Specimen - Blood sample collected from the vein. Test Preparation: None.
NOTE - Sample for specimen collections may vary based on the patient’s condition/cases according to patient’s presenting complaints / signs or symptoms:
SPECIMEN REQUIREMENT (Special or Rare Cases) - As instructed and guided by Physician / Clinician / Pathologist / as per Laboratory’s requirements, according to procedures and protocols.
This Multi-Specialty Clinical Referral Laboratory RTDIAGNOSTICS provides precise and accurate tests with an extensive range of testing services to the medical centers to help in the diagnosis and identification of pathology in the test specimens for infectious diseases and also to evaluate the function of organ systems of the patient. It prevents further complications and helps to stabilize and restore health to near normalcy at the earliest without delay.
