ABSTRACT
The autoimmune/inflammatory syndrome induced by adjuvants (ASIA) includes several autoimmune conditions and phenomena that occur after exposure to substances with adjuvant activity. The spectrum of the disease is heterogeneous with respect to the clinical presentation as well as the severity of the clinical manifestations. Different substances and medical devices with adjuvant activity are currently known, such as vaccines, oils, silicones, mineral salts, lipopolysaccharides, peptidoglycans, among others. These adjuvants are immunological molecules that function through potentiation of antigen-specific immune responses. Thus, the etiopathogenesis of ASIA syndrome involves a multifactorial interaction between environmental factors and genetic predisposition, and secondary activation of the adaptive and innate arms of the immune system through various mechanisms. Although in some reported cases the ASIA syndrome improves considerably when removing the implants, there are no conclusive results for the clinical benefit of removing the implants, so it is necessary to carry out further basic, clinical and surgical investigations in order to determine the best therapeutic decision.