VACCINE

“There are currently over 100 human diseases
that are considered to be autoimmune or chronic inflammatory affecting
5-10% of the world population and spanning through all medical specialties.”
Journal Of Autoimmunity • December 2008
The autoimmunologist:
geoepidemiology, a new center of gravity,
and prime time for autoimmunity
Author information
Shoenfeld Y1, Selmi C, Zimlichman E, Gershwin ME.
Department of Medicine B,
Center for Autoimmune Diseases, Sheba Medical Center
Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
shoenfel@post.tau.ac.il
Abstract
There are currently over 100 human diseases that are considered to be autoimmune or chronic inflammatory affecting
5-10% of the world population and spanning through all medical specialties. As a result, health care costs
are enormous and the clinical management is often challenging, particularly considering the comorbidity rates
and the multi-organ involvement of each condition. We herein propose the creation of a new specialist, coined the
autoimmunologist, to overcome the current limitations in the diagnostic process and clinical follow-up of patients
with autoimmune diseases. More importantly, we also propose the creation of regional centers of excellence in
autoimmunity where clinical research and management, as well as basic research may be united and interact in
ideal synergy to ultimately create real translational research and provide better health care.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=18838248