Potential Therapy for Rheumatoid Arthritis and Sjögren Syndrome With Human Chorionic Gonadotropin.

Abstract

Autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and Sjögren syndrome (SS) ameliorate during pregnancy, through dampening (immunotolerance) of the maternal immune system which protects the fetus from rejection. A large number of studies have shown that human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) contributes to this tolerance. Studies on animal models have reaffirmed that hCG treatment mimics the benefits of pregnancy. Based on the scientific evidence, randomized clinical trials comparing hCG with current therapies and/or placebo are recommended for RA, SS, and for other autoimmune diseases such as, type 1 diabetes and ankylosing spondylitis, which also get better during pregnancy and hCG treatment seems to help.

• Authors: C V Rao
• Journal: Reproductive sciences (Thousand Oaks, Calif.) (Reprod Sci) Vol. 23 Issue 5 Pg. 566-71 (May 2016) ISSN: 1933-7205 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 26239386 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)
• Copyright: © The Author(s) 2015.

Chemical References

• Chorionic Gonadotropin

Topics

• Animals
• Arthritis, Rheumatoid (diagnosis, drug therapy, metabolism)
• Chorionic Gonadotropin (metabolism, therapeutic use)
• Female
• Humans
• Pregnancy
• Sjogren's Syndrome (diagnosis, drug therapy, metabolism)