T Avcin, M Canova, P Guilpain, L Guillevin, C G M Kallenberg, A Tincani, M Tonon, S Zampieri, A Doria
In genetically predisposed individuals, viruses, bacteria, or parasitic infectious agents are suspected of inducing autoimmunity and/or exacerbating autoimmune rheumatic diseases (ARD) once self-tolerance is broken. Although direct evidence for this association is still lacking, numerous data from animal models as well as from humans support the hypothesis of a direct contribution of pathogens to the induction of several ARD. This review focuses on the possible role of infectious agents as triggers of autoimmunity in systemic lupus erythematosus, polymyositis-dermatomyositis, antiphospholipid antibody syndrome, and primary vasculitis...
January 2008: Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology