Pediatric Sjögren’s Syndrome: Focus on Ocular Involvement and Diagnostic Challenges

This study addresses the diagnostic challenges of pediatric primary Sjögren’s syndrome (pSS), focusing on ocular involvement. It retrospectively analyzed 6 pediatric patients, emphasizing the importance of early detection through ophthalmological assessments like tear break-up time (TBUT) and Schirmer’s test. All patients exhibited tear film instability, with 66.7% showing blepharitis linked to Meibomian gland dysfunction. Systemic symptoms included arthralgia, Raynaud’s phenomenon, and fatigue, with frequent seropositivity for ANA and anti-SSA/Ro antibodies. The study concludes that integrating ophthalmological evaluations with systemic and serological markers can enhance early diagnosis and management of pSS, potentially preventing long-term complications. Despite limitations such as a small sample size, the research highlights the need for a multidisciplinary approach and future development of pediatric-specific diagnostic criteria.