The effects of menopause on autoimmune diseases

Abstract

Despite the fact that women living in industrialized countries are likely to spend one-third of their lives in menopause, the influence of the estrogen withdrawal associated with menopause on many body systems is not fully understood. This is particularly true of the immune system. Autoimmune diseases show a clear predominance in women, implying a central role for estrogen in their development. A thorough elucidation of that role, however, has been challenged by the observation of undeniable contributions to autoimmune disease by genetics, immunosenescence, and environmental triggers as well. The global incidence of autoimmune disease has risen steadily in recent years, worldwide and in all ages, in parallel with steadily increasing global life spans. Given the prevalence of autoimmunity in women and the significant increase in the number of women in their postmenopausal years, the effect of menopause on autoimmunity is an area well deserving of further research effort.