what kind of disease i have?

hi
i am 29 yrs old female i recently had a blood test that shows a positive for an autoimmune condition known as sjogren,s syndrome,
ANA direct             positve (abn)
sjoren;s Anti ssa    3.1(abn)
what is this mean? is this a serious problem
i have been taking oral contraceptive pills since 3 yrs that inclue Gestodene 0.075 and Ethinylestradiol USP 0.02 mg
and i just skyp it this month and had a blood test
tell me what kind of disease i have how can i prevent my self ?
i will be very thank full to you

[Dr. Kokil Mathur]

Hi!
Sjogren's Syndrome is an autoimmune disease which attacks the glands which that produce tears and saliva, resulting in their deficiency. To confirm, apart from the tests you had, Schirmer's test to measure the production of tears, and a slit-lamp examination to look for eye dryness should be done by an eye specialist.
If you do not have symptoms like dry eyes, dry mouth, dry skin, then you should not worry much. If symptoms develop, then symptomatic relief is given in form of artificial tears for eyes, drinking plenty of fluids, and applying moisturizers. Also, dental care is important.
With age and time the symptoms can worsen and affect internal organs. Patient may develop blurred vision, difficulty in swallowing and eating, extreme fatigue, digestion problems, etc. Again treatment is symptomatic. Do discuss this with your doctor. Take care!