Which autoimmune disease is characterized by dry eyes and dry mouth?

Sjögren's syndrome is characterized by the presence of dry eyes (keratoconjunctivitis sicca) and dry mouth (xerostomia) due to autoimmune destruction of the exocrine glands. Specifically, it targets the lacrimal glands, leading to decreased tear production, and the salivary glands, resulting in reduced saliva secretion. This condition may occur as a primary autoimmune disorder or in association with other autoimmune diseases.

While other autoimmune diseases can have overlapping symptoms, they do not specifically present with the hallmark combination of dry eyes and dry mouth to the same extent. For instance, rheumatoid arthritis primarily involves joint inflammation and pain, systemic lupus erythematosus can affect multiple organ systems with a variety of symptoms but is not distinguished by xerophthalmia and xerostomia, and Hashimoto's thyroiditis mainly affects the thyroid gland, leading to hypothyroidism without the specific dryness associated with Sjögren's syndrome. Therefore, Sjögren's syndrome remains the most accurate choice for this presentation.