[Autoimmune theory of pathogenesis of systemic scleroderma].
Recent studies indicate there is bidirectional traffic of cells during the normal human pregnancy. Fetal cells have been found to persist in the maternal peripheral blood for many years after pregnancy (microchimerism). It will be noted that fetal cells in the blood and skin of SSD patients occur more frequently and in substantially higher concentrations than in healthy subjects. Many autoimmune disorders afflict women but in SSD, Sjogren's disease, and primary biliary cirrhosis case rates are at their highest at the post-childbearing age. The well-known condition of chimerism, graft-versus-host disease, has clinical similarities to some autoimmune diseases, notably systemic sclerosis (scleroderma). Results of reported studies as well as our data secured in the investigation of 190 patients with scleroderma lend support to the hypothesis put forward that microchimerism may be involved in the pathogenesis of scleroderma. If this hypothesis is confirmed new treatment modalities will be offered to scleroderma patients.
Nadashkevich
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D000328:Adult; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006086:Graft vs Host Disease / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000502:physiology; D008105:Liver Cirrhosis, Biliary / Q000276:immunology; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange / Q000502:physiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology*; D012859:Sjogren's Syndrome / Q000276:immunology