Pars Planitis & autoimmunity

[2johndeereboys]

Hello......I have asked several questions here in the past about Pars Planitis. My name is Lisa, i am 43 and I was dx with PP in both eyes in Sept 2015. At the time, I was having no health problems at all (aside from my eyes). Fast forward tp April 2016.....I got dx with Sjogren's Syndrome.

My question is, could the PP now be considered an autoimmune disease since the onset of SS? I know that there is a link between PP & MS. I have an appointment with a Neurologist in August as I continue to have numerous neurological symptoms that may or may not be SS related.

Anyway......I remember the retina specialist asking me about my health right before he told me about my PP dx. So I was just wondering since I am now an autoimmune patient, is the PP considered an autoimmune disease for me now as well?

Thanks so much in advance!

Lisa

[JohnHaganMD]

If you read about pars planitis (PP) you will find it is described as an inflammatory disesase of unknown etiology (cause).  Many sources will say its thought to be an autoimmune disorder.  So PP does not change whether you have SS or not.  PP is not a classic autoimmune disorder like lupus or rheumatoid arthritis. I did a literature search and no papers showed up showing a relationship of SS and PP.  In any case it will not change the treatment of either disease.  Restasis has been a huge benefit for the dry eye of SS and many products such as Biotene are available for the dry mouth.