[Immunology of systemic inflammatory diseases]
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1Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik III, Universitätsklinikum Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Fetscherstraße 74, 01307, Dresden, Deutschland. Martin.Aringer@uniklinikum-dresden.de.
Background:
Inflammatory rheumatic diseases are generally systemic diseases resulting from immune system dysfunction.
Methods:
Relevant pathophysiological processes in the immune system are discussed using laboratory results and autoantibody tests, as well as in terms of new drugs in particular. Furthermore, an immunologically focused overview of clinically relevant approaches is presented.
Results:
The pathophysiological role of both T and B lymphocytes as well as that of autoantibodies demonstrates that diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), connective tissue diseases, and vasculitides are autoimmune diseases. While tumor necrosis factor is apparently involved in many entities, other cytokines differentiate between RA (interleukin-6, IL-6) and spondylarthritides (IL-17, IL-23). In contrast, in crystal arthritides, IL-1 appears essential.
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