Autoimmune/inflammatory syndrome induced by adjuvants - A new diagnostic problem or the solution of a diagnostic riddle

Abstract

Autoimmune/inflammatory syndrome induced by adjuvants (ASIA) is a newly identified syndrome dealing with pathological effects of adjuvant use. In recent years observations have shown that a number of clinical situations displaying similar features can be associated with an overactive immune response and with the inflammatory effect of adjuvants administration. Chronic stimulation of the immune system by substances used as adjuvantsmay lead to the occurrence of numerous symptoms such as chronic fatigue, arthritis, myalgia, cognitive impairment and neurological disorders. The aim of this article is to present how and why adjuvants - while allegedly causing no specific immune response -may become a cause of development of autoimmune diseases.