An autoimmune disease is a disorder with the immune system whereby the immune cells attack the body’s own tissues. Unlike an immune deficiency, like HIV/AIDS, an autoimmune disease is due to an overactive and strong immune systems that is malfunctioning and incorrectly identifying the body’s cells as a foreign invader. An autoimmune disease may target specific cells, tissues or organs or the entire body.
What causes an autoimmune disorder?
Causes of Autoimmune Diseases
The immune system is the body’s defense against invading organisms and plays a crucial role in inflammation, a response designed to protect the body from injury. The immune system is made of different components, like the immune cells, chemicals and compounds. When the body is exposed to a foreign organism, it produces proteins known as antibodies which help the immune cells identify the invader and attack it. However sometimes, the body produces these antibodies against its own cells and this triggers the immune system to attack the body’s cells.
This ‘self destructive’ mode may occur for a number of reasons and the exact cause of many autoimmune diseases are not known. Some causes of autoimmune disorders include :
- Genetics
- Drugs and certain chemicals
- Infections
- Foreign organic matter
What are the signs and symptoms of an autoimmune disorder?
Signs and Symptoms of an Autoimmune Disease
The signs and symptoms of an autoimmune disease may vary, depending on the cell, tissue or organ being targeted. In terms of generalized autoimmune diseases that attack the entire body or many different organs of the body, there are some characteristic signs and symptoms.
- Fever of unknown origin, usually low grade and persistent.
- Aches and pains, general muscle ache and joint pains
- Fatigue
- Depression
- Poor sense of well being
While these signs and symptoms are vague, if they are persisting when all other possible diagnoses have been excluded, then an autoimmune disorder should be considered as a possibility.
How is an autoimmune disorder diagnosed?
Diagnosis and Tests for Autoimmune Diseases
Based on the doctor’s findings and your case history, you doctor will conduct a range of blood tests to identify an autoimmune disease. The most relevant tests for autoimmune diseases include :
- Anti-nuclear antibody (ANA) or anti-nuclear factor (ANF)
- C-reactive protein (CRP)
- Specific antibodies like rheumatoid factor which is present in many cases of rheumatoid arthritis
How is an autoimmune disorder treated?
Treatment of Autoimmune Diseases
Treatment will depend on the organ that is affected although corticosteroids are used to treat most autoimmune diseases. A low dose, chronic prescription of corticosteroids like prednisone will inhibit the activity of the immune system thereby reducing the ‘attack’ on the body and palliating the symptoms. For organ specific autoimmune diseases, treatment will also have to focus on restoring the action of the affected organ, for example, in Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, a drug to substitute thyroxin will be necessary.
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