Autoinflammatory disorders

Abstract

Originally, autoinflammatory diseases were defined as conditions characterized by seemingly unprovoked episodes of inflammation, without high titres of autoantibodies or antigen-specific T-cells [1]. Recently, a new definition has been proposed in which autoinflammatory diseases are defined as “clinical disorders marked by abnormally increased inflammation, mediated predominantly by cells and molecules of the innate immune system, with a significant host predisposition [2].” These patients experience lifelong recurrent episodes of inflammation, associated with fever in most cases and other symptoms such as malaise, arthralgia, abdominal pain, and skin rash. Between the episodes, the patients often are free of symptoms [3].