| |
 | Tell
her that a short course of HRT is safe and she should try
this to see if it relieves her symptoms. |
This
is a viable option. However, it overlooks the numerous other possible
causes for this symptom presentation. In particular, this is the
most common age and presentation for patients with Sjögren's
syndrome, an autoimmune exocrinopathy. With more focused questioning
and appropriate testing, a diagnosis may be established and treatment
instituted. Sjögren's syndrome patients also require regular
monitoring, as there is an increased risk of development of lymphoma
and it is often associated with other autoimmune connective tissue
disorders.
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