Indonesian Rheumatology Association (IRA) Recommendations for Diagnosis andManagement of Sjogren’s Syndrome

Abstract

Background. Sjogren’s syndrome (SS) is a systemic autoimmune disease
that affects exocrine glands. Dealing with SS is challenging due to the low
level of awareness and knowledge about SS, as well as the difficulty in
diagnosing and treating the disease. Diagnosing SS requires many
supporting examinations from many medical specialties. Therefore, these
recommendations were developed to serve as a guide for health practitioners
in diagnosing and treating SS. Methods. Six selected rheumatologists from
the Indonesian Rheumatologist Association (IRA) formulated the
recommendations based on key questions formed by a steering committee
from IRA. These recommendation materials were taken from several online
databases such as PubMed, Science Direct, and Google Scholar. Level of 
evidence and grades of recommendation were then assigned, and every
member of the panellist team will assign a score for level of agreement.
Results. The panel generated a total of 19 recommendations discussing the
diagnosis, pharmacological and non-pharmacological therapy, and
prognosis for SS. Conclusion. These recommendations can be used to help
clinicians correctly diagnose and choose the most suitable therapy for SS
patients. All recommendation statements were created with the
consideration of Indonesia’s clinical setting, facility, and drug availability.