Teja Kapoor

Early-career clinicians should not underestimate the effects of Sjögren disease or allow its subtle symptoms to go unnoticed, according to Dr Teja Kapoor; patients often present with incomplete stories and may hesitate to mention key symptoms such as dryness, fatigue, or neuropathy.

Practicing in the diverse community of New York City has shown Teja Kapoor, MD, that Sjögren disease presents differently across populations and that significant barriers to diagnosis exist, especially among minority and immigrant groups. These barriers include limited awareness among clinicians, language and health literacy challenges, cultural misconceptions, fragmented care, and lack of access to dental or specialty services.

Teja Kapoor, MD, recalls an early patient with Sjögren disease whose symptoms were initially dismissed, leading to delayed diagnosis and significant health impacts. This experience deeply influenced her approach and highlights how Sjögren disease is now recognized as a complex disease affecting multiple organ systems. Advances in classification and diagnosis and a coordinated, multidisciplinary approach have transformed patient care, with earlier recognition now altering long-term outcomes.