Figure 1From: Insights into endocrine-immunological disturbances in autoimmunity and their impact on treatmentFactors involved in the pathogenesis of autoimmune rheumatic diseases. The major risk factors in autoimmunity include specific genetic background, chronic infections as triggers of the immune response, estrogens as general enhancers of the immune response (at least B-cell-driven), and chronic stress over a long time inducing a decreased adrenal glucocorticoid release.Back to article page