title: The remission of rheumatoid arthritis during pregnancy.
abstract: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease that is favorably influenced by pregnancy but relapses after delivery. A variety of circulating factors has been considered as candidates for inducing gestational improvement of RA; however, the factors/pathways responsible remain still elusive. This review discusses recent research on the effect of pregnancy on RA with a focus on immunregulation, cytokine secretion, HLA antigens, microchimerism, and innate immunity. The complex hormonal and immunological alterations of pregnancy may temporarily correct the disturbed immunregulation of RA.
authors.affiliation: Clinic for Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University Hospital of Berne, CH-3010 Bern, Switzerland. monika.oestensen@insel.ch
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ostensen
authors.forename: Peter M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Villiger
mesh_terms: D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases; D005260:Female; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange / Q000276:immunology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012075:Remission, Spontaneous
chemical_list: D006680:HLA Antigens; D008222:Lymphokines