Autoimmune disease

From WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia

A condition in which the body recognizes its own tissues as foreign and directs an immune response against them. Autoimmune diseases are a group of conditions where the immune system mistakenly attacks the body's own cells. There are more than 80 types of autoimmune diseases, affecting various parts of the body[1].

Normally, the immune system can distinguish between foreign cells and its own cells. In an autoimmune disease, however, this system fails to recognize its own cells and starts attacking them as if they were foreign bodies. This can lead to inflammation and damage to various body tissues.

Types of Autoimmune Diseases[edit | edit source]

There are several types of autoimmune diseases, which can be grouped by the body parts they affect. Some of the most common ones include Rheumatoid arthritis, Type 1 diabetes, Psoriasis, Multiple sclerosis, Systemic lupus erythematosus, and Inflammatory bowel disease.

Causes[edit | edit source]

The exact cause of autoimmune diseases is unknown, but it's believed that a combination of genetics and environmental factors such as infections and exposure to chemicals or certain foods can trigger an autoimmune response[2].

Diagnosis and Treatment[edit | edit source]

Diagnosis of autoimmune diseases can be challenging due to the wide range of symptoms that can vary greatly from person to person. Tests such as antinuclear antibody (ANA) test and autoantibody tests are often used.

Treatment aims to control the overactive immune response and bring down inflammation or reduce pain. This typically involves the use of medications such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), immune-suppressing drugs, and physical therapy[1].

Research[edit | edit source]

Research into autoimmune diseases is ongoing, with scientists working to understand the causes and develop improved treatments. There are also numerous clinical trials in progress, looking at new ways to treat autoimmune diseases[1].

See Also[edit | edit source]

Autoimmune disease Resources

Rheumatologic diseases[edit source]

Arthritis is often used to refer to any disorder that affects the joints. Rheumatic diseases usually affect joints, tendons, ligaments, bones, and muscles. Rheumatologic diseases usually affect joints, tendons, ligaments, bones, and muscles.

Connective Tissue Diseases
Rheumatology and Connective Tissue Diseases
Ankylosing spondylitis Arthritis
Arthritis and Rheumatic diseases Autoimmune diseases
Autoinflammatory diseases Behçet’s disease
Bursitis Giant cell arteritis
Gout Juvenile arthritis
Knee problems Lupus
Osteoarthritis Polymyalgia rheumatica
Psoriatic arthritis Reactive arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis Scleroderma
Sjögren’s syndrome Systemic lupus erythematosus (Lupus)
Tendinitis Rheumatologic diseases
  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Autoimmune diseases". National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD