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A study undertaken by the University of WA and the Lions Eye Institute that focused on Sjogren’s syndrome found chronic viral infections can lead to autoimmune disease.

Sjogren’s is the second most common autoimmune disease, which causes ‘dry eye’ and affects up to 3 per cent of the population, mainly women. The research found that chronic cytomegalovirus infection (CMV) – which is part of the herpes family – could lead to Sjogren’s syndrome.  In healthy people, CMV causes mild flu-like symptoms, but in those with compromised immune systems, it can lead to serious illness.

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