When APS (Hughes syndrome) met the autoimmune/inflammatory syndrome induced by adjuvants (ASIA)

Vaccination of healthy individuals is the most effective approach to protect the public from infections and prevent the spread of many infectious diseases all over the globe. Licensed vaccines are mostly safe, but in rare cases they may be associated with humoral response to self-antigens due to molecular mimicry, epitope spread, bystander activation or polyclonal triggering. Moreover, the clinical picture of autoimmune conditions following post-vaccination is rarer. Nevertheless, anecdotal case reports on the flare of autoimmune response with clinical manifestations were reported. Herein, we discuss this topic in relation to post-vaccination-induced antiphospholipid antibodies following tetanus toxoid vaccine, HBV and influenza associated in rare cases with antiphospholipid syndrome clinical manifestations. We will discuss the possible mechanisms which pertain to ASIA (Shoenfeld syndrome). Lupus (2012) 21, 711-714.