Autoimmune/inflammatory syndrome induced by adjuvants (ASIA), or Shoenfeld's syndrome, is a hypothesised autoimmune disorder proposed by Israeli immunologist Yehuda Shoenfeld in 2011. [1] According to Shoenfeld, the syndrome is triggered by exposure to adjuvants and includes four conditions: " post-vaccination symptoms", macrophagic myofasciitis, Gulf war syndrome, sick building syndrome, and siliconosis. [2] [3] Shoenfeld alleges that the syndrome is caused by adjuvants such as silicone, tetramethylpentadecane, pristane, and aluminum. [4] However, causality is difficult to prove because ASIA only occurs in a small fraction of patients exposed to these adjuvants. [5] Additionally, proponents of this theory allege that the disorder can manifest anywhere from 2 days to 23 years after exposure. [3] Shoenfeld has also named Sjögren's syndrome as potentially being another facet of ASIA. [6]
However, apart from the theoretical concept of ASIA, there is a lack of reproducible evidence for any causal relationship between adjuvant and autoimmune condition. [7] A study of 18,000 people showed that there is no merit to the theory of autoimmune/inflammatory syndrome induced by adjuvants. [8]
Autoimmune/inflammatory syndrome induced by adjuvants (ASIA), or Shoenfeld's syndrome, is a hypothesised autoimmune disorder proposed by Israeli immunologist Yehuda Shoenfeld in 2011. [1] According to Shoenfeld, the syndrome is triggered by exposure to adjuvants and includes four conditions: " post-vaccination symptoms", macrophagic myofasciitis, Gulf war syndrome, sick building syndrome, and siliconosis. [2] [3] Shoenfeld alleges that the syndrome is caused by adjuvants such as silicone, tetramethylpentadecane, pristane, and aluminum. [4] However, causality is difficult to prove because ASIA only occurs in a small fraction of patients exposed to these adjuvants. [5] Additionally, proponents of this theory allege that the disorder can manifest anywhere from 2 days to 23 years after exposure. [3] Shoenfeld has also named Sjögren's syndrome as potentially being another facet of ASIA. [6]
However, apart from the theoretical concept of ASIA, there is a lack of reproducible evidence for any causal relationship between adjuvant and autoimmune condition. [7] A study of 18,000 people showed that there is no merit to the theory of autoimmune/inflammatory syndrome induced by adjuvants. [8]