title: Advances in the Aetiophatogenesis of Sjögren's Syndrome: a Literature Review.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of present paper is to review and critically address the recent advances on the aetiopathogenesis of the Sjögren's syndrome, taking into account the attained clinical features, with particular relevance given to the oral involvement.
  
  
  METHODS
  A comprehensive review of the available literature between 1970 and 2012, regarding to the aetiopathogenesis and clinical findings related to Sjögren's syndrome was conducted. Eligible studies were identified by searching the electronic literature PubMed, Medline, Embase, and ScienceDirect databases for relevant reports (last search update January 2012), combining the MESH heading term "Sjögren's syndrome", with the words "salivary glands, xerostomia, xerophtalmia, aetiology". The authors checked the references of the selected articles to identify additional eligible publications and contacted the authors, if necessary.
  
  
  RESULTS
  This article addresses a large number of the recent advances in the aetiopathogenesis of the disease, taking into account the attained clinical features of both local and systemic nature. Detailed mechanisms of the hypothesized influence of viral infections, genetic and hormonal factors, and the relevance of the altered glandular homeostasis are critically discussed with particular relevance given to the local and systemic involvement of Sjögren's syndrome.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The increasing number of data published recently on the aetiophatogenesis of Sjögren's syndrome strengthens the hypothesis that this condition, as all autoimmune diseases, is a multifactor disorder. Genetic predisposition, hormonal and environmental factors are thought to be implicated.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Pharmacology and Cellular Biocompatibility, Faculty of Dental Medicine, University of Porto Porto Portugal.
authors.forename: Pedro de Sousa
authors.initials: Pde S
authors.lastname: Gomes
authors.affiliation: Department of Maxillofacial Surgery, Medical Academy, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences Kaunas Lithuania.
authors.forename: Gintaras
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Juodzbalys
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Pharmacology and Cellular Biocompatibility, Faculty of Dental Medicine, University of Porto Porto Portugal.
authors.forename: Maria Helena
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Fernandes
authors.affiliation: Department of Dental and Oral Pathology, Medical Academy, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences Kaunas Lithuania.
authors.forename: Zygimantas
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Guobis
keywords: Sjogren's syndrome; aethiology.; oral pathology; salivary glands; xerophthalmia; xerostomia