(1) Section of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology,
University of Santo Tomas, 1000 Medical Arts Bldg., Espana St., Manila
1008, Philippines
Abstract
The distinctions between infection, chronic
arthritis, and autoimmune diseases have steadily blurred over the
past decades. The proposed pathomechanisms underlying these interesting
associations include putative pathways from infection to innate
and adaptive immunity, molecular mimicry, and certain microbial
and host factors. This article further reviews the spectrum of
microbial agents implicated in some rheumatic diseases and cites
the potential clinical application of this expanding field of knowledge
in the prevention and treatment of chronic inflammatory and autoimmune
diseases.
