Decoding Sjogren’s Disease: A Clinical Deep Dive

Innovation is Coming: The Next Era in Sjogren’s Treatment

In this episode, we look to the future of Sjogren’s care—one that’s more personalized, precise, and full of hope. We talk through how the condition is managed today and map out the key patient phenotypes, as well as explore breakthrough treatments now in late-stage trials, explaining how the next five years could transform how we treat this complex disease. About Dr. Nancy Carteron Dr. Carteron is a Professor at the University of California, Berkeley, and the immediate past chair of the Medical and Scientific Advisory group of the Sjogren’s Foundation. She currently sees patients at the Interdisciplinary Sjogren’s Clinic at UC Berkeley. She is a nationally recognized leader in clinical innovation and research for Sjögren’s disease. In this episode, we explore: (00:00) Patient-centric Sjogren's diagnosis strategy (05:21) Lymphoproliferative risks in Sjogren's (08:49) Sjogren's: fatigue, brain fog, inflammation (10:45) Late-stage clinical trials with therapies designed specifically for Sjogren’s (11:50) Targeting pathways in autoimmunity (14:28) Undetected antibodies in Sjogren's disease (17:51) If you take one thing from this episode... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

‘I Can’t Think, I Can’t Work’: The Hidden Toll of Sjogren’s

We center the conversation on the lived experience of Sjogren’s—where fatigue, pain, and brain fog can eclipse even the most alarming lab results. We reveal the tools, strategies, and patient support systems that can transform quality of life and break the cycle of isolation so many patients endure. About Dr. Teja Kapoor Dr. Kapoor is the Director of the Columbia Sjogren’s Center and a leading advocate for earlier recognition and systemic management of Sjögren’s disease. In this episode, we explore: (00:00) Sjogren’s as an invisible illness (02:54) Comparing Sjogren's to other autoimmune diseases – “even worse than death” (03:34) Measuring the quality of a Sjogren's patient experience (04:59) Evaluating Sjogren's syndrome tools (07:29) Holistic approach in patient care (08:11) If you take one thing from this episode... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

The Importance of Coordinating Care

In episode three, we reframe Sjogren’s as a team sport—and show why no single specialty can manage it alone. We explore how ophthalmologists, dentists, neurologists, gastroenterologists, and others each play a critical role, and we unpack the systemic complications that demand a truly multidisciplinary approach. About Dr. Chadwick Johr Dr. Johr is the Director of the Penn Sjogren’s Center and an Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine. His work focuses on comprehensive, team-based care for patients with complex autoimmune presentations. In this episode, we explore: (00:00) Collaborative care for Sjogren's patients- it's the only way (03:26) Ophthalmologists: essential for Sjogren’s diagnosis (06:30) How dentists, eye doctors and more can help (07:58) Why Sjogren's is a complex multi-systemic disease (11:46) Detecting ILD and lymphoma risks (13:47) Other specialists needed for Sjogren's management (17:22) If you take one thing from this episode... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

How to Diagnose Tricky Cases

With Dr. McCoy to guide us, we go deep into the real-world challenges of diagnosing Sjogren’s—getting expert advice on how to overcome them. We share practical, in-clinic strategies for distinguishing Sjogren’s from other causes of dryness, explore the pitfalls of seronegative cases, and reveal why certain tests and interpretations can make or break an accurate diagnosis. About Dr. Sarah McCoy Dr. McCoy is a rheumatologist, physician scientist, and Director of the University of Wisconsin Sjogren’s Clinic. She has specialized expertise in labial salivary gland biopsies, musculoskeletal and glandular ultrasound, and the nuanced clinical evaluation of Sjogren’s. In this episode, we explore: (00:00) Sjogren's Disease: diagnostics and treatment challenges (05:47) Evaluating dryness in Sjogren’s diagnosis (07:45) Sjogren’s mimics, including infections, sarcoidosis, and IgG4-related disease. (09:22) Sjogren's Disease evaluation process and objective testing from the office and clinic (11:59) Imaging techniques for salivary gland diagnosis (16:19) If you take one thing from this episode... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

The Urgency of Early Diagnosis

In our first episode, we tackle one of Sjogren’s most dangerous problems—diagnostic delay. We uncover why early recognition is critical to preventing irreversible organ damage and reducing lymphoma risk, and we break down the systemic blind spots that keep patients suffering for years before getting answers. About Dr. Teja Kapoor Dr. Kapoor is the Director of the Columbia Sjogren’s Center and a leading advocate for earlier recognition and systemic management of Sjogren’s disease. In this episode, we explore: (00:00) Sjogren's diagnostic challenges (05:47) Sjogren's syndrome: lymphoma risk factors (06:54) What clinicians tend to still get wrong about Sjogren's (08:38) Clinical red flags and cues (12:24) The additional systematic manifestations that may be overlooked (13:22) If you take one thing from this episode... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]