Present and future treatments of dryness in primary Sjögren's syndrome

Primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) is characterized by the association of a symptomatic triad (dryness, pain and fatigue) with various systemic manifestations. While systemic involvement affects about 30 % of patients, sicca, mainly ocular and oral, is present in almost all patients. This symptom causes high burden of the disease and a marked deterioration in quality of life. It should not be neglected in the management of pSS patients. The purpose of this update is to provide a review of the mechanisms that cause dry syndrome in pSS, to outline the potential consequences of this symptom, and to give practical tools to guide the management of our pSS patients. Finally, this article reviews the impact of targeted therapies in development in pSS on dryness.