Both Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and Sjogren Syndrome are autoimmune diseases. The blood tests for diagnosing these diseases involve specific antibodies. If adequate therapy that decreases the immune system is not applied then the blood tests do not change.


The term “Crossover” is used when the symptoms of two diseases coexist in one condition, in one patient. Therefore, the condition can not be diagnosed as only one of the possible diseases. Because both lupus and Sjogren syndrome are autoimmune diseases, the therapy is similar. The health might be affected more than if only one disease existed.
The complications are combined from both diseases: kidney, heart and lung problems, anemia, liver (cirrhosis) and spleen problems, mild memory loss, difficulty swallowing, vision problems. Always look for one rare but important complication of Sjogren syndrome: lymphoma (cancer of the lymph nodes). It appears usually in the area of the salivary glands that might be swollen.