Year: 2008
Type: conference-abstract
Abstract: Immunological and epidemiological evidence suggests that female sex hormones play an important role in the aetiology and pathophysiology of chronic inflammatory diseases; however, whether (or when) estrogens are friends or foes in inflammatory/immune-mediated rheumatic diseases is still a matter of debate [1]. Several significant factors generate confusion and opposite conclusions might arise from the relatively superficial translation done from the animal studies to the human condition, the different effects of oestrogens on their different receptors or on different target cells, the different oestrogen concentrations employed and finally, opposite effects (especially on cell proliferation) exerted by different peripheral oestrogen metabolites. Pregnancy represents a singular condition of physiological interference on hormonal and immunological behaviour in females affected by chronic autoimmune diseases. For example, one paper in this issue discusses molecular and clinical disease activity markers in RA patients during the third trimester of pregnancy [2]. Furthermore, a further paper discusses when and whether autoantibodies might act as predictors of pregnancy complications [3]. Pregnancy in chronic autoimmune diseases such as SLE, SSc, RA and others is reviewed.
Source: Rheumatology
Language: English
Subfield: Rheumatology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W2103664599