VACCINE

Journal Of Autoimmunity • January 2014
Sjögren’s syndrome:
another facet of the
autoimmune/inflammatory syndrome induced by adjuvants
(ASIA)
Author information
Colafrancesco S1, Perricone C1,
Priori R2, Valesini G2, Shoenfeld Y3.
1. Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialities, Rheumatology Unit, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy
The Zabludowicz Center for Autoimmune Diseases, Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, Israel
2. Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialities, Rheumatology Unit, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy
3. The Zabludowicz Center for Autoimmune Diseases, Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, Israel
Incumbent of the Laura Schwarz-Kipp Chair for Research of Autoimmune Diseases
Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Israel
shoenfel@post.tau.ac.il
Abstract
Recently, a new syndrome, namely the “Autoimmune/inflammatory syndrome induced by adjuvants”
(ASIA) has been defined. In this syndrome different conditions characterized by common signs and
symptoms and induced by the presence of an adjuvant are included. The adjuvant is a substance capable
of boosting the immune response and of acting as a trigger in the development of autoimmune
diseases. Post-vaccination autoimmune phenomena represent a major issue of ASIA. Indeed, despite
vaccines represent a mainstay in the improvement of human health, several of these have been implicated
as a potential trigger for autoimmune diseases. Sjogren’s Syndrome (SjS) is a systemic chronic
autoimmune inflammatory disease characterized by the presence of an inflammatory involvement of
exocrine glands accompanied by systemic manifestations. Own to the straight association between infectious
agents exposure (mainly viruses) and sicca syndrome development, the possible link between
vaccine and SjS is not surprising. Indeed, a few cases of SjS following vaccine delivery have been
reported. At the same extent, the induction of SjS following silicone exposure has been described too.
Thus, the aim of this review was to focus on SjS and its possible development following vaccine or
silicone exposure in order to define another possible facet of the ASIA syndrome.
“despite vaccines represent a mainstay
in the improvement of human health, several of these have
been implicated as a potential trigger for autoimmune diseases.
Sjogren’s Syndrome (SjS) is a systemic chronic autoimmune
inflammatory disease characterized by the presence of an
inflammatory involvement of exocrine glands accompanied
by systemic manifestations.”
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24774584