Sjögren’s disease, an autoimmune disorder that affects nearly 4 million Americans, is closer to being easier to diagnose thanks to the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation.

Currently, about 30% of people suspected of having the disease must undergo an intrusive lip biopsy to confirm diagnosis when a specific biomarker doesn’t show up in blood tests. OMRF researchers found that different biomarkers exist for many people with Sjögren’s, and a study involving 126 volunteers found more than 12 new ones connected to the disease.

Darise Farris, Ph.D, director of OMRF’s Sjögren’s Research Clinic, said the findings could lead to a less invasive and more accurate diagnosis procedure.

“What this suggests is that it is possible to discover new biomarkers for Sjögren’s,” Farris said. “It also suggests that we may ultimately be able to prevent thousands of people from undergoing a lip biopsy.”

Sjögren’s disease causes immune cells to mistakenly attack and kill healthy cells in the glands that produce tears and saliva. It can also affect the blood vessels, lungs, brain, liver and pancreas. It most commonly impacts women over 50.

OMRF Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer Judith James, M.D., Ph.D., said the study’s results are promising.

“We’re still trying to understand the essential nature of Sjögren’s,” James said. “Dr. Farris’s research made significant progress in that effort. The next step is to expand this study to a larger set of people with the disease and with similar diseases to see how these tests might lead to earlier and simpler diagnosis for Sjögren’s patients.”

This story originally ran on VeloCityOKC.com.