TY - JOUR T1 - Y chromosome microchimerism in Sjögren's syndrome JF - Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases JO - Ann Rheum Dis SP - 1078 LP - 1079 DO - 10.1136/ard.60.11.1078 VL - 60 IS - 11 AU - F CARLUCCI AU - R PRIORI AU - C ALESSANDRI AU - G VALESINI AU - A STOPPACCIARO Y1 - 2001/11/01 UR - http://ard.bmj.com/content/60/11/1078.abstract N2 - There are many similarities between graft versus host disease (GVHD) and some rheumatic autoimmune diseases, such as systemic sclerosis (SSc), Sjögren's syndrome (SS), and primary biliary cirrhosis. Bianchi et al reported that fetal cells could survive in the maternal circulation for up to 27 years after parturition. This phenomenon is called fetal microchimerism.1 Some observations led the hypothesis that persistent fetal cells in the maternal circulation could mediate a graft versus host reaction, resulting in autoimmune disease. It is known that during a chronic GVHD, a Sjögren-like syndrome, is often observed: a salivary gland biopsy sample from patients with chronic GVHD showed lymphocytic infiltration, similar to that found in SS.2 Nlson and colleagues have studied male fetal microchimerism in skin lesions … ER -