What is Sjögren’s syndrome?

Recently, the US Open witnessed a major shock when Venus Williams quit the tournament after revealing she was suffering from an illness that could threaten her tennis future.

The illness is “Sjogren’s Syndrome”. The Tennis star also said that it could affect her Tennis Career.

The Sjögren’s syndrome or Mikulicz disease or Sicca syndrome is a systemic autoimmune dysfunction in which immune cells attack and destroy the tear and saliva producing exocrine glands. This disease is found most commonly in women. 4 million people in the United States alone suffer from Sjögren’s syndrome making it the second most common autoimmune rheumatic disease in USA.