Autoimmune Disease

Definition

Autoimmune disorders are conditions in which a person's immune system attacks the body's own cells, causing tissue destruction.

Description

Autoimmunity is accepted as the cause of a wide range of disorders and suspected to be responsible for many more. Autoimmune diseases are classified as either general (the autoimmune reaction takes place simultaneously in a number of tissues) or organ specific (the autoimmune reaction targets a single organ).

Autoimmune disorders include the following:

• Systemic lupus erythematosus. A general autoimmune disease in which antibodies attack a number of different tissues. The disease recurs periodically and is seen mainly in young and middle-aged women.
• Rheumatoid arthritis. Occurs when the immune system attacks and destroys the tissues that line bone joints and cartilage. The disease occurs throughout the body, although some joints may be more affected than others.
• Goodpasture's syndrome. Occurs when antibodies are deposited in the membranes of both the lung and kidneys, causing both inflammation of kidney glomerulus (glomerulonephritis) and lung bleeding. It is typically a disease of young males.
• Grave's disease. Triggered by an antibody that binds to specific cells in the thyroid gland, causing them to make excessive amounts of thyroid hormone.
• Hashimoto's thyroiditis. Also referred to as autoimmune thyroiditis and chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis; a chronic inflammatory glandular autoimmune disease. It is caused by an antibody that binds to cells in the thyroid gland. Unlike in Grave's disease, however, this antibody's action results in less thyroid hormone being made.
• Pemphigus vulgaris. A group of autoimmune disorders that affect the skin.
• Myasthenia gravis. A condition in which the immune system attacks a receptor on the surface of muscle cells, preventing the muscle from receiving nerve impulses and resulting in severe muscle weakness.
• Scleroderma. Also called CREST syndrome or progressive systemic sclerosis, scleroderma affects the connective tissue.
• Autoimmune hemolytic anemia. Occurs when the body produces antibodies that coat red blood cells.
• Autoimmune thrombocytopenic purpura. Disorder in which the immune system targets and destroys blood platelets.
• Polymyositis and dermatomyositis. Immune disorders that affect the neuromuscular system.
• Pernicious anemia. Disorder in which the immune system attacks the lining of the stomach in such a way that the body cannot metabolize vitamin B_12.
• Sjögren's syndrome. Occurs when the exocrine glands are attacked by the immune system, resulting in excessive dryness.
• Ankylosing spondylitis. Immune-system induced degeneration of the joints and soft tissue of the spine.
• Vasculitis. A group of autoimmune disorders in which the immune system attacks and destroys blood vessels.
• Type I diabetes mellitus. May be caused by an anti-body that attacks and destroys the islet cells of the pancreas that produce insulin.

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Author Info: Crystal Heather Kaczkowski MSc., The Gale Group Inc., Gale, Detroit, Gale Encyclopedia of Nursing and Allied Health, 2002

This feature is for informational purposes only and should not be used to replace the care and information received from your healthcare provider. Please consult a healthcare professional with any health concerns you may have.