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You are here : AllRefer.com > Health > Diseases & Conditions > Autoimmune Disorders

Autoimmune Disorders

Provided by A.D.A.M.

Definition

Overview, Causes, & Risk Factors

Symptoms & Signs

Prevention

Diagnosis & Tests

Treatment

Expectations or Prognosis

Complications

Calling Your Health Care Provider

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Definition

Disorders caused by an immune response against the body's own tissues.

Pictures & Images

Graves' Disease
Graves' Disease

Hashimoto's Disease (Chronic Thyroiditis)
Hashimoto's Disease (Chronic Thyroiditis)

Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple Sclerosis

Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid Arthritis

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Antibodies
Antibodies

 
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Overview, Causes, & Risk Factors

The immune system protects the body from potentially harmful substances (antigens) such as microorganisms, toxins, cancer cells, and foreign blood or tissues from another person or species. Antigens are destroyed by the immune response, which includes production of antibodies (molecules that attach to the antigen and make it more susceptible to destruction) and sensitized lymphocytes (specialized white blood cells that recognize and destroy particular antigens).

Immune system disorders occur when the immune response is inappropriate, excessive, or lacking. Autoimmune disorders develop when the immune system destroys normal body tissues. This is caused by 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 "self" body tissues.

Normally, the immune system is capable of differentiating "self" from "non-self" tissue. Some immune system cells (lymphocytes) become sensitized against "self" tissue cells, but these faulty lymphocytes are usually controlled (suppressed) by other lymphocytes. Autoimmune disorders occur when the normal control process is disrupted. They may also occur if normal body tissue is altered so that it is no longer recognized as "self." The mechanisms that cause disrupted control or tissue changes are not known. One theory holds that various microorganisms and drugs may trigger some of these changes, particularly in people with a genetic predisposition to an autoimmune disorder.

Autoimmune disorders result in destruction of one or more types of body tissues, abnormal growth of an organ, or changes in organ function. The disorder may affect only one organ or tissue type or may affect multiple organs and tissues. Organs and tissues commonly affected by autoimmune disorders include blood components such as red blood cells, blood vessels, connective tissues, endocrine glands such as the thyroid or pancreas, muscles, joints, and skin.

A person may experience more than one autoimmune disorder at the same time. Examples of autoimmune (or autoimmune-related) disorders include:



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Definition
Autoimmune Disorders Overview, Causes, & Risk Factors
Autoimmune Disorders Symptoms & Signs
Autoimmune Disorders Prevention
Autoimmune Disorders Diagnosis & Tests
Autoimmune Disorders Treatment
Autoimmune Disorders Prognosis
Autoimmune Disorders Complications
Calling Your Health Care Provider
Pictures & Images

Topics that might be of interest to you

Diseases & Conditions

Addison's Disease
Allergies
Cancer
Chronic Thyroiditis (Hashimoto's Disease)
Dermatomyositis
Diabetes
Graves' Disease
Multiple Sclerosis
Myasthenia Gravis
Pernicious Anemia
Reiter's Syndrome
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Sjogren Syndrome
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Type 1 Diabetes

Other Topics

Antibody
Antigen
Chronic
Dizziness
Endocrine
Fatigue
Fever
Immune Response
Malaise
Toxins

Review Date : 8/3/2003
Reviewed By : Megan Clowse, M.D., Division of Rheumatology, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

Main Page of Autoimmune Disorders






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Page Last Updated: 19 Jul, 2008