adjuvants – American ME and CFS Society

Autoimmune autonomic nervous system imbalance and conditions: Chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, silicone breast implants, COVID and post-COVID syndrome, sick building syndrome, post-orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, autoimmune diseases and autoimmune/inflammatory syndrome induced by adjuvants

Abstract:

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), fibromyalgia, silicone breast implants syndrome (SBIs), COVID and post-COVID syndrome (PCS), sick building syndrome (SBS), post-orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), autoimmune diseases and autoimmune/inflammatory syndrome induced by adjuvants (ASIA) are frequently accompanied by clinical symptoms characteristic for dysautonomia: severe fatigue, dizziness, fogginess, memory loss, dry mouth and eyes, hearing dysfunction, tachycardia etc.

The recent discovery of an imbalance of autoantibodies against G protein-coupled receptors (GPCR) in some autoimmune diseases, post-COVID syndrome, SBIs allowed researchers to assume the novel mechanism in these conditions – autoimmune autonomic nervous system imbalance.

In this review, all data published on an imbalance of autoantibodies against GPCR, clinical symptoms and pathogenic mechanisms in CFS, Fibromyalgia, SBIs, COVID and PCS, SBS, POTS, and some autoimmune diseases were analyzed. Possible criteria to diagnose the autoimmune autonomic nervous system imbalance were created.

Source: A.M.Malkova, Y.Shoenfeld. Autoimmune autonomic nervous system imbalance and conditions: Chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, silicone breast implants, COVID and post-COVID syndrome, sick building syndrome, post-orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, autoimmune diseases and autoimmune/inflammatory syndrome induced by adjuvants. Autoimmunity Reviews, 5 November 2022, 103230. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1568997222002002 (Full text)

Breast implant illness: scientific evidence of its existence

Abstract:

Introduction: More than one million breast augmentation procedures using silicone breast implants (SBI) have been performed worldwide. Adverse events of SBI include local complications such as pain, swelling, redness, infections, capsular contracture, implant rupture and gel-bleed. Furthermore, patients experience systemic symptoms such as chronic fatigue, arthralgias, myalgias, pyrexia, sicca, and cognitive dysfunction. These symptoms received different names such as autoimmune/inflammatory syndrome induced by adjuvants (ASIA) due to silicone incompatibility syndrome and breast implant illness (BII). Because of chronic immune activation, BII/ASIA, allergies, autoimmune diseases, immune deficiencies and finally lymphomas may develop in SBI patients.

Areas covered: Causality for SBI-related BII/ASIA is reviewed. To address the role of silicone implants in promoting causality, we utilized the Bradford-Hill criteria, with results highlighted in this article.

Expert opinion: We conclude that there is a causal association between SBIs and BII/ASIA. Using data derived from patients with BII/ASIA and from other medically implanted devices, there appears to be clear pathogenic relationship between SBI and BII/ASIA. Breast implants cause characteristic systemic reactions in certain women, leading to symptoms of sufficient severity to warrant device removal. The morbidity suffered is variable. SBI removal resolves the symptoms in most women and removal is the most effective treatment.

Source: Cohen Tervaert JW, Mohazab N, Redmond D, van Eeden C, Osman M. Breast implant illness: scientific evidence of its existence. Expert Rev Clin Immunol. 2021 Dec 9. doi: 10.1080/1744666X.2022.2010546. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 34882509. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34882509/

Chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia following immunization with the hepatitis B vaccine: another angle of the ‘autoimmune (auto-inflammatory) syndrome induced by adjuvants’ (ASIA)

Abstract:

The objectives of this study were to gather information regarding demographic and clinical characteristics of patients diagnosed with either fibromyalgia (FM) or chronic fatigue (CFS) following hepatitis B vaccination (HBVv) and furthermore to apply the recently suggested criteria of autoimmune (auto-inflammatory) syndromes induced by adjuvants (ASIA), in the aim of identifying common characteristics that may suggest an association between fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue and HBV vaccination.

Medical records of 19 patients with CFS and/or fibromyalgia following HBVv immunization were analyzed. All of which were immunized during 1990-2008 in different centers in the USA. All medical records were evaluated for demographics, medical history, the number of vaccine doses, as well as immediate and long term post-immunization adverse events and clinical manifestations. In addition, available blood tests, imaging results, treatments and outcomes were analyzed. ASIA criteria were applied to all patients.

The mean age of patients was 28.6 ± 11 years, of which 68.4 % were females. 21.05 % had either personal or familial background of autoimmune disease. The mean latency period from the last dose of HBVv to onset of symptoms was 38.6 ± 79.4 days, ranging from days to a year. Eight (42.1 %) patients continued with the immunization program despite experiencing adverse events. Manifestations that were commonly reported included neurological manifestations (84.2 %), musculoskeletal (78.9 %), psychiatric (63.1 %), fatigue (63.1 %), gastrointestinal complains (58 %) and mucocutaneous manifestations (36.8 %). Autoantibodies were detected in 71 % of patients tested. All patients fulfilled the ASIA criteria.

This study suggests that in some cases CFS and FM can be temporally related to immunization, as part of ASIA syndrome. The appearance of adverse event during immunization, the presence of autoimmune susceptibility and higher titers of autoantibodies all can be suggested as risk factors. ASIA criteria were fulfilled in all patients eluding the plausible link between ASIA and CFS/FM.

Source: Agmon-Levin N, Zafrir Y, Kivity S, Balofsky A, Amital H, Shoenfeld Y. Chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia following immunization with the hepatitis B vaccine: another angle of the ‘autoimmune (auto-inflammatory) syndrome induced by adjuvants’ (ASIA). Immunol Res. 2014 Dec;60(2-3):376-83. doi: 10.1007/s12026-014-8604-2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25427994

The common immunogenic etiology of chronic fatigue syndrome: from infections to vaccines via adjuvants to the ASIA syndrome

Abstract:

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is characterized by unexplained fatigue that lasts for at least 6 months with a constellation of other symptoms. Most cases start suddenly, and are usually accompanied by a flu-like illness. It is a symptom-based diagnosis of exclusion, the pathogenesis of which is unknown. Studies have examined and hypothesized about the possible biomedical and epidemiologic characteristics of the disease, including genetic predisposition, infections, endocrine abnormalities, and immune dysfunction and psychological and psychosocial factors. Recently, the AISA (autoimmune/inflammatory syndrome induced by adjuvants) syndrome was recognized, indicating the possible contribution of adjuvants and vaccines to the development of autoimmunity.

Source: Rosenblum H, Shoenfeld Y, Amital H. The common immunogenic etiology of chronic fatigue syndrome: from infections to vaccines via adjuvants to the ASIA syndrome. Infect Dis Clin North Am. 2011 Dec;25(4):851-63. doi: 10.1016/j.idc.2011.07.012. Epub 2011 Sep 9. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22054760