An autoimmune disorder is a condition that occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys healthy body tissue. There are more than 80 different types of autoimmune disorders.
See also: Immune response
Causes, incidence, and risk factors
Normally the immune system's army of white blood cells helps protect the body from harmful substances, called antigens. Examples of antigens include bacteria, viruses, toxins, cancer cells, and foreign blood or tissues from another person or species. The immune system produces antibodies that destroy these harmful substances.
But in patients with an autoimmune disorder, the immune system can't tell the difference between healthy body tissue and antigens. The result is an immune response that destroys normal body tissues. The response is a hypersensitivity reaction similar to allergies, where the immune system reacts to a substance that it normally would ignore. In allergies, the immune system reacts to an external substance that would normally be harmless. With autoimmune disorders, the immune system reacts to normal body tissues.
What causes the immune system to no longer distinguish between healthy body tissues and antigens is unknown. One theory holds that various microorganisms and drugs may trigger some of these changes, particularly in persons who are genetically prone to autoimmune disorders.
An autoimmune disorder may result in:
The destruction of one or more types of body tissue
Abnormal growth of an organ
Changes in organ function
An autoimmune disorder may affect one or more organ or tissue types. Organs and tissues commonly affected by autoimmune disorders include:
Graves disease (4 images)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Graves disease is an autoimmune disorder that involves overactivity of the thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism. Reviewer: Robert Hurd, MD, Department of Biology, College of Arts and Sciences, Xavier University, Cincinnati, OH. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare NetworkDate: 08/08/2006
Multiple sclerosis (5 images)
Average Rating:
(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease¿that affects the central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord.¿ Reviewer: Daniel Kantor, M.D., Director of the Comprehensive MS Center, Neuroscience Institute, University of Florida Health Science Center, Jacksonville, FL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 08/06/2007
Rheumatoid arthritis (5 images)
Average Rating:
(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a long-term disease that causes inflammation of the joints and surrounding tissues. It can also affect other organs. Reviewer: Steve Lee, DO, Rheumatology Fellow, Loma Linda University Medical Center, Loma Linda, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 07/27/2007
Autoimmune hepatitis (2 images)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Autoimmune hepatitis is inflammation of the liver caused by immune cells that mistake the liver's normal cells as harmful invaders. Reviewer: Jenifer K. Lehrer, MD, Department of Gastroenterology, Frankford-TorresdaleHospital, Jefferson Health System, Philadelphia, PA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 07/25/2006
Addison’s disease (1 image)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Addison's disease is a hormone deficiency (not enough hormone) caused by damage to the outer layer of the adrenal gland (the part known as the adrenal cortex. Reviewer: Robert Hurd, MD, Department of Biology, College of Arts and Sciences, Xavier University, Cincinnati, OH. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare NetworkDate: 08/08/2006
Systemic lupus erythematosus (6 images)
Average Rating:
(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic, inflammatory autoimmune disorder. It may affect the skin, joints, kidneys, and other organs. Reviewer: Lisa Christopher-Stine, MD, MPH, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 08/22/2006
Chronic thyroiditis (Hashimoto’s disease) (4 images)
Average Rating:
(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Chronic thyroiditis is an inflammation of the thyroid gland that frequently results in hypothyroidism (lowered thyroid function. Reviewer: Robert Hurd, MD, Department of Biology, College of Arts and Sciences, Xavier University, Cincinnati, OH. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 05/12/2006
Print
