Repercussions of occult malignancy - an etiologic basis for rheumatic disease.

Paraneoplastic syndromes and infection are known causes of autoimmunity, but the etiology of most autoimmune syndromes remains unknown. If the immune system can effectively fight malignant cell lines, it is likely that many potential tumors are controlled before becoming clinically apparent. This phenomenon is a potential explanation for all non-infectious auto-immunity including many rheumatic diseases. The presented discussion argues that all auto-immune disease is secondary to infection or neoplasia, and occult neoplasia is responsible for rheumatic diseases. Detecting occult neoplasia is inherently not possible, but if this theory bears truth, induced autoimmune disease could become a powerful treatment of malignancy.