[Women and autoimmune diseases with cardiovascular manifestations].
Women's greater susceptibility to autoimmune diseases has been recognized for more than 100 years. And although the basic immune response (including a more vigorous immune response and increased antibody production) has been known to differ between men and women, conclusive pathophysiological explanations for this phenomenon are still lacking. Experimental work done in animal models have revealed a profound influence of sex hormones on the susceptibility to autoimmune diseases and on clinical disease via direct and indirect signaling pathways. Apart from sex hormones additional factors seem to participate in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases, which remain to be elucidated ("so far, you cannot explain autoimmunity [only] with estrogen" [lockshin]).
Portig
Irene
I
Klinik für Innere Medizin-Kardiologie, Angiologie und Prävention, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Baldingerstrasse, 35033, Marburg.
Sandmöller
Andrea
A
Pankuweit
Sabine
S
Maisch
Bernhard
B
D000818:Animals; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012737:Sex Factors; D016387:Women's Health