PeriRx LLC’s Robust Product Pipeline Includes Salivary Test for Sjögren’s Syndrome - A Common Symptom of Rheumatoid Arthritis
Havertown, Pa. – PeriRx LLC, a premier developer of breakthrough, non-invasive, salivary diagnostic technology recently announced that it will be introducing a highly accurate and scientifically validated molecular biomarker test for the early detection of Sjögren’s Syndrome by the end of 2014.
Sjögren’s Syndrome is a systemic chronic inflammatory disorder in which the immune system attacks and damages the body's moisture-producing glands. This causes dryness of the eyes and mouth and is associated with a number of oral and ocular complications.
In addition, Sjögren’s sufferers may experience pain, stiffness and swelling in the joints, rashes on the arms and legs related to vasculitis – an inflammation of blood vessels. The lungs, liver and kidneys may become inflamed; some people develop tingling and numbness in the limbs because of neurological complications. The disease either exists by itself as primary Sjögren’s, or as secondary Sjögren’s, which develops in conjunction with other connective tissue disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or Lupus.
Diagnosing Sjögren’s Syndrome has always been difficult. The average time between onset of symptoms and diagnosis is six years and the symptoms are often attributed to other causes when the patient first visits their physician.
According to PeriRx, LLC’s CEO Stephen M. Swanick, “The PeriRx Sjögren’s Syndrome Test not only represents a technological breakthrough that enables earlier diagnosis of the disease; it puts the dental professional on the front lines with medical doctors and medical specialists in the collaborative care of the patient.”
As with all PeriRx salivary tests currently under development, the PeriRx Sjögren’s Syndrome Test is based on a strong scientific foundation of NIH-funded research with initial discovery and pre-validation work by Dr. David Wong of the University of California at Los Angeles.
These discriminatory salivary biomarkers have been clinically validated in multiple large trials including studies in collaboration with the National Cancer Institute and with premiere US and international academic medical centers.