[Aging of the immune system and sequelae for rheumatic diseases]

Immunoreactivity is impaired in old individuals. This is due especially to a loss of signals as well as to a loss of corresponding receptors. Moreover, the regulation of the immune response is reduced. This causes an increase of infectious diseases and of autoimmunopathies. With regard to rheumatic diseases there is a significant decline of reactive states in contrast to the manifestation of autoimmune arthritis. However, this is modified by nonimmunological factors such as hormones, which explains the predominance of females.