Sicca syndrome and sicca complex

Q: What is the difference between sicca syndrome and sicca complex? 

Answer: 

Sicca syndrome is a synonym for Sjögren's syndrome (SS). On the other hand, sicca complex refers to dryness of the eyes and mouth without specification to different etiologies, like about 40% of patients with active chronic hepatitis and 70% with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) have it.

Term sicca complex came from keratoconjunctivitis sicca which denotes the ocular findings of SS, and was coined by Swedish ophthalmologist Henrik Sjögren. Other terms used are dry eye syndrome and dysfunctional tear syndrome.

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References: 

1. Sjögren H. Zur Kenntnis der Keratoconjunctivitis sicca. Acta Ophthalomol 1933; 11(suppl II):1. 

2. Golding PL, Bown R, Mason AM, Taylor E. "Sicca complex" in liver disease. Br Med J. 1970 Nov 7;4(5731):340-2. doi: 10.1136/bmj.4.5731.340. PMID: 5472806; PMCID: PMC1819706. 

3. The definition and classification of dry eye disease: report of the Definition and Classification Subcommittee of the International Dry Eye WorkShop (2007). Ocul Surf 2007; 5:75.