Activation of autoimmunity following use of immunostimulatory herbal supplements.

Activation of autoimmunity following use of immunostimulatory herbal supplements. Research Abstract Details 

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Activation of autoimmunity following use of immunostimulatory herbal supplements. Abstract Text:

BACKGROUND: Evidence for the scientific basis of purported therapeutic effects and adverse effects of herbal supplements continues to grow. Many herbal supplements are touted for their immunostimulatory properties, and both in vitro and in vivo experiments have supported this claim. Although this explains their beneficial effects in preventing or curtailing disease, to our knowledge, no immunostimulatory herbal supplements have been reported to exacerbate disorders of immune system overactivity. OBSERVATIONS: We describe 3 patients whose autoimmune disease onset and/or flares correlated with ingestion of herbal supplements with proven immunostimulatory effects. Echinacea and the alga Spirulina platensis are implicated in 2 patients' flares of pemphigus vulgaris, and a supplement containing the algae Spirulina platensis and Aphanizomenon flos-aquae was ingested by a third patient days before both onset and a severe flare of dermatomyositis. The third patient showed heterozygosity for a tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) promoter polymorphism (-308A), leading to increased production of TNF-alpha, which may have predisposed her to developing dermatomyositis. CONCLUSIONS: Immunostimulatory herbal supplements may exacerbate preexisting autoimmune disease or precipitate autoimmune disease in persons genetically predisposed to such disorders. Increased production of TNF-alpha may play a role, although more research is needed to clarify the mechanisms of such phenomena.

Activation of autoimmunity following use of immunostimulatory herbal supplements. Publishing Authors By Initials

For similar bacteria: cyanobacteria: spirulina research abstracts see: bacteria: cyanobacteria: spirulina research

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Activation of autoimmunity following use of immunostimulatory herbal supplements. Journal Published:

PUBLICATION TYPE: Journal Article

Journal: Archives of dermatology

VOLUME: 140

Page Numbers: 723-7

Journal Abbreviation: Arch Dermatol

ISSN: 0003-987X

DAY: 17

MONTH: Jun

YEAR: 2004

Activation of autoimmunity following use of immunostimulatory herbal supplements. Information

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LANGUAGE: eng

NlmUniqueID: 372433

Activation of autoimmunity following use of immunostimulatory herbal supplements. Keywords Mesh Terms:

KEYWORDS: Spirulina

MESH TERMS: adverse effects

Chemical & Substance for Abstract: Activation of autoimmunity following use of immunostimulatory herbal supplements. Information

Substance Name: Plant Preparations

Registry Number: 0

Grant and Affiliation Information for Activation of autoimmunity following use of immunostimulatory herbal supplements.

AFFILIATION: Section of Dermatology, University of Chicago, IL, USA.

Country: United States

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MEDLINETA: Arch Dermatol

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