Immunology of pregnancy—pregnancy as a remission inducing agent in rheumatoid arthritis
M Østensen, PM Villiger - Transplant immunology, 2002 - Elsevier
A variety of hormonal and immunological alterations are induced by pregnancy in order to
protect the semi-allogeneic fetus from rejection. Systemic effects of altered
immunoregulation induced by pregnancy influence the activity of rheumatoid arthritis (RA)
and other autoimmune diseases. Pregnancy induces improvement or even remission of
disease activity in 75% of RA patients. This phenomenon has still not been explained,
however, several attractive hypotheses related to the immunology of pregnancy emerge …
protect the semi-allogeneic fetus from rejection. Systemic effects of altered
immunoregulation induced by pregnancy influence the activity of rheumatoid arthritis (RA)
and other autoimmune diseases. Pregnancy induces improvement or even remission of
disease activity in 75% of RA patients. This phenomenon has still not been explained,
however, several attractive hypotheses related to the immunology of pregnancy emerge …
