autoimmune disease

(noun)

A disease where one's immune system attacks one's own tissues.

Related Terms

Examples of autoimmune disease in the following topics:

  • Autoimmune Diseases

    • Autoimmune diseases are an inappropriate immune response against tissues in the body.
    • Autoimmune diseases are commonly considered complex immune disorders.
    • While many autoimmune diseases are rare, collectively these diseases afflict millions of patients.
    • However, defects of one or more of these genes do not cause an autoimmune disease, but only predispose a person for an autoimmune disease.
    • The factors that trigger an autoimmune disease are still unknown.

  • The Roles of Genetics and Gender in Autoimmune Disease

    • Any disease that results from such an aberrant immune response is termed an autoimmune disease.
    • Autoimmune diseases are very often treated with steroids.
    • Three main sets of genes are suspected in many autoimmune diseases.
    • A person's sex also seems to have some role in the development of autoimmunity, classifying most autoimmune diseases as sex-related diseases.
    • Define autoimmunity and explain how it gives rise to autoimmune disease

  • Cytotoxic Autoimmune Reactions

    • Any disease that results from such an aberrant immune response is termed an autoimmune disease.
    • Autoimmune diseases are very often treated with steroids.
    • Genetically predisposed individuals do not always develop autoimmune diseases.
    • A person's sex also seems to have some role in the development of autoimmunity, classifying most autoimmune diseases as sex-related diseases.
    • According to the American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association (AARDA), autoimmune diseases that develop in men tend to be more severe.

  • The Complement System and Heart Disease

    • In autoimmune heart diseases, the body's immune defense system mistakes its own cardiac antigens as foreign, and attacks them.
    • Autoimmune heart diseases result when the body's own immune defense system mistakes cardiac antigens as foreign, and attacks them, leading to inflammation of the heart as a whole, or in parts.
    • The most common form of autoimmune heart disease is rheumatic heart disease, or rheumatic fever.
    • A typical mechanism of autoimmunity is autoantibodies, or auto-toxic T-lymphocyte mediated tissue destruction.
    • Aetiologically, autoimmune heart disease is most commonly seen in children with a history of sore throat caused by a streptococcal infection.

  • Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

    • Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease that can occur in any organ or tissue in the body.
    • Systemic lupus erythematosus, often abbreviated to SLE or lupus, is a systemic autoimmune disease (or autoimmune connective tissue disease) that can affect any part of the body.
    • As with other autoimmune diseases, the immune system attacks the body's own cells and tissue, resulting in inflammation and tissue damage.
    • The course of the disease is unpredictable, with periods of illness (called flares) alternating with remissions.
    • It is the prototypical autoimmune disease.

  • Ankylosing Spondylitis

    • Ankylosing spondylitis is a chronic inflammatory, autoimmune disease that results in joint fusion in the vertebrae and the sacroiliac joint.
    • AS is a form of spondyloarthritis, a chronic, inflammatory arthritis and autoimmune disease.
    • However, only 5% of individuals with the HLA-B27 genotype contract the disease
    • Symptoms of the disease first appear, on average, at age 23 years.
    • Men are affected more than women by a ratio of about 3:1, with the disease usually taking a more severe course in men than women.

  • Cell-Mediated Autoimmune Reactions

    • Several mechanisms are thought to be operative in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases, against a backdrop of genetic predisposition and environmental modulation.
    • A feature of human autoimmune disease is that it is largely restricted to a small group of antigens, several of which have known signaling roles in the immune response (for example DNA, C1q, IgGFc, Ro, Con.
    • When tolerance to self proteins is lost, DQ may become involved in autoimmune disease.
    • Two autoimmune diseases in which HLA-DQ is involved are celiac disease and diabetes mellitus type 1.
    • Define cell-mediated autoimmunity and describe the mechanisms that are thought to operate in the pathogenesis of autoimmune disease

  • Adrenal Gland Disorders

    • Addison's disease and congenital adrenal hyperplasia can manifest as adrenal insufficiency.
    • One subtype is called idiopathic or unknown cause of adrenal insufficiency. 80% are due to an autoimmune disease called Addison's disease or autoimmune adrenalitis.
    • Tertiary adrenal insufficiency is due to hypothalamic disease and decrease in corticotropin releasing factor (CRF).
    • For chronic adrenal insufficiency, the major contributors are autoimmune adrenalitis, tuberculosis, AIDS, and metastatic disease.
    • Autoimmune adrenalitis may be part of Type 2 autoimmune polyglandular syndrome, (which can include type 1 diabetes), hyperthyroidism, autoimmune thyroid disease (also known as autoimmune thyroiditis and Hashimoto's disease).

  • Hypersensitivities

    • The types of hypersensitivities include immediate, delayed, and autoimmunity hypersensitivities.
    • Most types of autoimmunity involve the humoral immune response.
    • In patients with the autoimmune disease myasthenia gravis, muscle cell receptors that induce contraction in response to acetylcholine are targeted by antibodies.
    • In systemic lupus erythematosus, a diffuse autoantibody response to the individual's own DNA and proteins results in various systemic diseases.
    • Autoimmunity can develop with time; its causes may be rooted in molecular mimicry.

  • Hypersensitivity

    • A hypersensitivity reaction refers to an overreactive immune system triggered by allergies and autoimmunity.
    • Hypersensitivity (also called hypersensitivity reaction) refers to undesirable reactions produced by the normal immune system, including allergies and autoimmunity, and are commonly mediated by antibodies.
    • Associated disorders: Autoimmune hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, Erythroblastosis, fetalis, Goodpasture's syndrome, Membranous nephropathy, Graves' disease, Myasthenia Gravis.
    • Associated disorders: Contact dermatitis, Mantoux test, Chronic transplant rejection, Multiple sclerosis, T-cells VAutoimmune disease receptor mediated, Graves' disease,Myasthenia Gravis.