Introduction
The immune system is in charge of protecting the body from foreign microbes and molecules that would otherwise cause harm and illness. But what happens when immune cells start to attack the very body they’re supposed to protect? That is when autoimmunity occurs. This article is going to briefly discuss what autoimmunity is, the types of autoimmune disorders, their causes and symptoms, how these disorders are diagnosed, and current treatment options.
What is Autoimmunity?
Autoimmunity, also commonly known as autoimmune diseases or disorders, develops when immune cells target and “attack” a person’s own body rather than protecting them against microorganisms such as bacteria and viruses. This happens when the immune system is overactivated and will produce antibodies, the proteins responsible for fighting against foreign germs, against a person’s own cells. These self-targeting antibodies are referred to as autoantibodies. Due to the individual’s own body being the target of autoimmunity, autoimmune disorders are often chronic conditions whose symptoms need to be managed long-term. [1,2,3]
Types of Autoimmune Disorders
Because of how autoimmune disorders can manifest, there are so many variations that it is difficult to classify them into specific types. Almost any area of the body can be impacted by autoimmunity, including the muscles, joints, nervous system, skin, digestive system, hormone-producing glands, and blood vessels. The organs and organ systems affected by an overactive immune system influence how treatment is approached. Taking into consideration whether or not an autoimmune disorder impacts a specific organ or multiple parts of the body (better known as a systemic autoimmune disease) can help in regards to better guiding treatment procedures. [2,4]
Presently, there are well over 80-100 recognized conditions, though some of the more common ones include: [2,5]
Type I Diabetes
Lupus (AKA systemic lupus erythematosus)
Vitiligo
Hashimoto’s thyroiditis
Rheumatoid arthritis
Celiac disease
Multiple sclerosis
Psoriasis
There are currently organizations working to compile a more exhaustive collection of autoimmune conditions, such as the Global Autoimmune Institute and The Autoimmune Registry. Their databases contain information regarding conditions impacting specific body parts, associated symptoms, and even how rare a given condition is.
Causes & Symptoms
Despite the variety of autoimmune conditions and the significant number of people living with them, it is currently unclear how autoimmunity develops. While the specifics of disease development are still under research, genetic, environmental, and other risk factors increase the likelihood of experiencing autoimmunity. These risk factors include: [1,2,6]
Being of the female sex, as there are higher rates of autoimmunity among this group.
Having family members who have an autoimmune condition.
Some viral infections, such as COVID-19 or Epstein-Barr virus.
Some chemicals and other environmental pollution.
Smoking and tobacco use.
When it comes to symptoms, they tend to vary depending on the autoimmune condition and the impacted organ. Inflammation is a common symptom for several of these disorders and may manifest in a variety of ways, such as swelling, pain, heat or warmth, or redness of the skin. Other common symptoms may include fatigue, fever, rash, or just a general unwell feeling known as malaise. Fortunately, symptoms are not constant for most autoimmune conditions. Periods where symptoms get worse are referred to as flares or attacks. During a flare-up, it may be necessary to seek medical attention, especially if symptoms seem to worsen during specific activities, times, or when exposed to certain foods or drinks. [2, 5]
Diagnostic Methods
Diagnosing autoimmune diseases can become quite a hassle. Because symptoms of these conditions tend to resemble so many other illnesses, there is no specific test that can nicely diagnose an autoimmune disease. Autoimmune diagnoses are typically reached after tests are run that eliminate other conditions as a possibility.
When autoimmune conditions are a concern, such as in the case of a family history of autoimmune diseases, diagnostic methods include a physical exam that can be followed up with more extensive testing. This can include some but not necessarily all of the possible tests below: [2,5,6]
Blood tests (autoantibody tests, blood count tests, etc.)
Urinalysis
X-rays
MRI
CT scans
Ultrasounds
Treatments & Care
Which autoimmune condition someone has and how their body reacts to it often dictates what treatment options there are. This results in treatment varying from person to person and plans are made unique to each individual. The main objectives of treatment are to limit autoimmunity and symptom prevalence while trying to support the immune system’s disease-fighting abilities. Some prevalent treatment options include: pain and anti-inflammatory medication, drugs that limit the immune system’s activity (aka immunosuppressants), antibody IV infusions, blood transfusions, and physical therapy. Currently, there is no cure or prevention method for autoimmune disorders. Despite this, a majority of these conditions can be controlled with appropriate treatment. [2,5,6]
References:
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2024, December 17). Autoimmune Diseases. National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. https://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/conditions/autoimmune
Autoimmune Diseases. Cleveland Clinic. (2024, October 22). https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21624-autoimmune-diseases
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2023, March). Autoimmune diseases. National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. https://www.niams.nih.gov/health-topics/autoimmune-diseases
Johns Hopkins Medicine: Department of Pathology. (n.d.). Classification of autoimmune diseases. Johns Hopkins Medicine: Pathology. https://pathology.jhu.edu/autoimmune/classification
Berman, J. (Ed.). (2023, June 12). Medlineplus medical encyclopedia: Autoimmune disorders. MedlinePlus. https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000816.htm
U.S. National Library of Medicine. (n.d.). Autoimmune diseases. MedlinePlus. https://medlineplus.gov/autoimmunediseases.html
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