Jackie,
I see a cardiologist regularly for checkups since my thyroid went wild and started doing strange cardiac things. Anyway, at my last appointment my cardiologist said that although things looked fine now with my heart it would be a good idea to continue following up yearly because she's seen Sjogren's attack the heart. I knew it was a definite possibility for lupus but didn't know that was the case with Sjs too.
Do you have any thyroid issues too? I wonder when you mention heart rhythm disturbances.
It's scary when things happen with your heart. I pray everything goes well and your doctor gets you all figured out.
Take care.

I also have cardiac issues, I have Diastolic Dysfuction, Mitral Valve Prolapse, SVT's. I know my cardiologist did not put it with Sjogren's Syndrome but that makes me very curious to know if it is another link in this disease. Any further input would be appreciated.

Jackie, One of my close Sjogie friends ended up with a heart episode, but had elevated CRP, which can be a cardiac inflammation marker, for a number of years first. Another friend is struggling with rapid heart beats which may be exacerbated by Sjogren's.

Thyroid issues?! I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's thyroid disease after Sjogren's in 1998. Synthroid didn't do much good for me, but Armour (the so-called "natural" thyroid) has been much better.

Thanks everyone for the responses. I have been evaluated for thyroid issues but labs are all good although I do have several nodules on the thyroid.

I have had irregular heart rate my whole life even after the ablations. But then 5 years ago my potassium levels dropped to dangerous levels and was diagnosed with hypokalemia and renal tubular acidosis which was believe to be causing some of the issues but finally after 5 years my kidney stones are gone, potassium levels have returned to normal and I am still experiencing cardiac issues.

I believe my cardiologist, since I've been with him for so many years is looking at it the same as he always has and I think whatever is going on now is different. Wish they would understand this! I have had 2 stress test and 4 holter monitors and 1 event monitor since November. GRRRRR!

I have been doing a little research and found that valvular regergitation is of higher incidence in people with sjogren's. I have an appointment Monday with the cardiologist and I am going to ask him about it?!?

Thanks Everyone
-Well Wishes
Jackie

I have primary Sjogrens and cardiac issues.
I have been going to Dr. Birnbaum at Johns Hopkins for years.
He is really up on all of the new issues with Sjogrens.
He has helped me more that anybody else .
I just can't say enough good about the Sjogrens Clinic at Johns Hopkins
CatloverNC

10 years ago my heart rate was at 30 and I had a pacemaker the next day-issue was signal from one side to the other--no other heart problems and no one could tell me why it happened, altho my primary suggested it could be my sjogren's.

One of the first drs. I was sent to after my diagnosis of primary SS was a cadiologist. I saw him 3 times last year and then he let me go for 1 year. I see him in a couple of weeks for my yearly check up. He said SS can cause cardiac problems and it's best to keep on top of things.

I have mitral valve regurgitation. Also, I have hypoparathyroidism and hypothyroidism, both caused by Sjogren's. And I found out about the hypoparathyroidism when I almost died when my calcium levels dropped to a drastically low level. It was very scary. This is a scary disease to have, and I truly have compassion for anyone who is diagnosed with it. Also, I've had numberous kidney infections, wonder if that has anything to do with Sjogren's. I was told I have Addison's disease, which another autoimmune disease, and that I've had it since I was born, so I don't know if the Sjogren's and Addison's are just having a gay old time playing havoc with things. And I just keep on telling myself that there are people in this world that have things a whole lot worse that I do! At least I know there are other people who also know what I am going through, and I really appreciate what you have written. I learn so much from all of you!

So I followed up with my cardiologist last week and still really don't know if the cardiac issues are related to sjogren's. In the process of scheduling my third cardiac ablation. Apparently there is a new procedure that they want to use on this time. I have A-Fib, PVC's, SVT's and palpatations. My heart rate varies from 53-157 with a few SVT's thrown in ocassionally. Hopeful that it can be fixed with an ablation, if not they will have to put in a pacemaker.

Sorry to hear you are going through all of this. I am 61 years old and have recently learned that I have hardening of the arteries, but they thought I might have an aortic anurisim which I don't think I have but must now have a cat scan once a year. They put me on Crestor immediately and my bad cholesterol went from 153 down to 54. Of course, I changed my diet around completely.

I have no idea if this is related to primary Sjogrens or just the aging process. Right now my blood flow is good, but an anurism can quickly take you away. I know I am not spelling that right but you know what I am saying. The plaque starts to perforate the artery wall.

I know my rhuemy would say this problem has nothing to do with Sjogrens but I am not so sure. Mine was found by accident. I went to the emergency room for a bad stomach virus and had some blood in my stool so they decided to do the cat scan and that is what they found. Guess in that respect I was lucky. We all have much to deal with. I take it one day at a time and try to find the best quality that I can and I try not to worry about the rest.

Take care...........

Mild regurgitation & sinus tachycardia issues here, too.

Under the thread," It is helping", I posted on new research that is finally connecting the dots to all these seemingly disparate symptoms. I mentioned that a lack of pancreatic enzymes would lead to a dysfunction of the ANS and showed how. If you are unable to break down dietary proteins, you would not be able to release B12. Here is how that would lead to cardiovascular disease.

B12 is necessary to keep an amino acid called homocysteine in check. Homocysteine is a potent nerve and blood vessel toxin. It is 40 times more predictive of heart disease than cholesterol. Many studies have shown it is highly elevated in Lupus,Fibro, RA and most all autoimmune diseases. It will cause the endothelial cells (cells that line all your blood vessels to "commit mass suicide" in the words of the researchers. It is linked to Raynauds,hardening of the arteries and increased risk of heart attack and many other symptoms.

The connection to B12 is so close, that currently one of the most accurate tests for a B12 deficiency is to check for elevated homocysteine levels.

Someone just posted on thyroid issues and their association with SJS and autoimmune disease. Here is the connection. I also posted on the other thread that if you were unable to break down dietary proteins, you would not be able to make amino acids. They are formed from dietary proteins. One of the amino acids that studies have shown Fibro patients and other autoimmune sufferers lack is tyrosine. Tyrosine is necessary to make both of the thyroid hormones- thyroxine and triiodothyroine. They are both tyrosine based hormones. In addition, Hypothyroid patients are 20 TIMES MORE LIKELY to have pernicious anemia. Pernicious anemia is caused by a B12 deficiency.


Someone else mentioned calcium. Blood borne calcium is PROTEIN BOUND. If you are unable to break down dietary proteins, because you lack pancreatic enzymes, you would not be able to carry protein bound calcium.

Someone else mentioned mild regurgitaion. This is part and parcel of a pancreatic enzyme deficiency. Your entire GI tract is malfunctioning. Like I mentioned on the other thread, you can now name any symptom that can be explained and traced back to its source.