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Diff: Autoimmune Disorders

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'''Autoimmune disorders''', also called '''autoimmune diseases''', are conditions in which the immune system attacks the body's own cells, tissues, or organs by mistake. The immune system normally protects the body against infection. In autoimmune disease, that response is misdirected and can cause inflammation, pain, organ damage, or long-term changes in how part of the body works.

There is no single autoimmune disorder. The term covers many different conditions, including [[rheumatoid arthritis]], [[systemic lupus erythematosus]], [[type 1 diabetes]], [[multiple sclerosis]], autoimmune thyroid disease, inflammatory bowel disease, psoriasis, and [[Coeliac Disease\|coeliac disease]]. Some are mainly organ-specific, while others can affect several systems at once.
	'''Autoimmune disorders''' are conditions in which the immune system mistakenly attacks the body's own cells, tissues or organs. They are also commonly called '''autoimmune diseases''' or '''autoimmune conditions'''.

== Immune System Background ==
The immune system uses many types of cells and chemical signals to identify threats. It must react strongly enough to control infection while also avoiding attacks on the body's own tissues. This ability to distinguish self from non-self is called immune tolerance.
	The immune system normally protects the body from infection and other threats. In autoimmune disease, parts of that defence system target healthy tissue, causing inflammation, pain, organ damage or changes in how the body functions.

Autoimmune disease develops when tolerance breaks down. B cells may produce autoantibodies, T cells may attack tissue directly, and inflammatory signals may keep the process active. The result varies by disease. In rheumatoid arthritis, joints are a major target. In type 1 diabetes, insulin-producing cells in the pancreas are damaged. In coeliac disease, gluten exposure leads to immune damage in the small intestine.
	== How Autoimmunity Works ==
	The immune system uses many checks to tell the difference between the body and outside threats. Autoimmunity can develop when those checks fail or when immune responses continue after they should have stopped.

== Causes and Risk Factors ==
Most autoimmune disorders do not have one simple cause. They usually arise from a combination of inherited risk and environmental triggers. A person may carry genes that increase susceptibility without ever developing disease.
	Some autoimmune diseases mainly affect one organ. Type 1 diabetes affects insulin-producing cells in the pancreas, while coeliac disease affects the small intestine after exposure to gluten. Other conditions, such as lupus, can affect several systems at once.

Factors linked with autoimmune disease include:
	== Examples ==
	Autoimmune conditions include:

* Family history of autoimmune disease.
* Sex, as many autoimmune disorders are more common in women.
* Infection or immune stress in susceptible people.
* Smoking, which is linked with several inflammatory conditions.
* Hormonal and environmental influences.
* Having another autoimmune condition.
	* [[Rheumatoid_Arthritis\|rheumatoid arthritis]], which mainly affects joints;
	* systemic lupus erythematosus, which can affect skin, joints, kidneys, blood, brain and other organs;
	* type 1 diabetes, which affects insulin production;
	* [[Celiac_Disease\|coeliac disease]], triggered by gluten in genetically susceptible people;
	* multiple sclerosis, which affects the central nervous system;
	* autoimmune thyroid disease, including Graves' disease and Hashimoto's thyroiditis;
	* psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis;
	* inflammatory bowel disease, including Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.

The presence of a risk factor does not mean a person will develop an autoimmune disorder. It only changes the likelihood.
	The conditions differ greatly. A mild skin-limited disorder and a severe multi-organ condition should not be treated as the same problem simply because both involve autoimmunity.

== Symptoms ==	== Symptoms ==
Symptoms depend on the condition and the tissue involved. Some autoimmune disorders have obvious local symptoms, while others cause general symptoms that can be hard to separate from other illnesses.
	Symptoms depend on the condition and the organs involved. Common patterns can include fatigue, joint pain, swelling, rashes, bowel symptoms, fever, mouth ulcers, weight change, weakness, numbness, dry eyes, hair loss or symptoms that come and go in flares.

Common features can include:
	Because many symptoms are shared with non-autoimmune conditions, diagnosis usually depends on the full pattern rather than one symptom.

* Tiredness or low energy.
* Joint pain, stiffness, or swelling.
* Muscle pain or weakness.
* Skin rashes, colour change, scaling, or hair loss.
* Digestive symptoms such as abdominal pain, diarrhoea, bloating, or weight change.
* Fever, swollen glands, or recurrent inflammation.
* Numbness, tingling, changes in vision, or balance problems in some neurological conditions.
	== Causes and Risk Factors ==
	Most autoimmune disorders have more than one cause. Genetic susceptibility can increase risk, but genes alone rarely explain the whole condition. Environmental triggers, infections, smoking, hormones, gut factors, medicines and chance immune events may all play a part depending on the disease.

Many autoimmune conditions fluctuate. Periods of worsening symptoms are often called flares. Periods where symptoms improve or settle may be called remission.
	NIAID notes that many autoimmune diseases disproportionately affect women, including rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis and systemic lupus erythematosus. Family history can also matter, although relatives may develop different autoimmune conditions rather than the same one.

== Diagnosis ==	== Diagnosis ==
Diagnosis depends on the suspected condition. There is no universal blood test that proves every autoimmune disease. Doctors usually combine history, examination, blood tests, imaging, and sometimes tissue biopsy.

Common investigations include:
	Diagnosis depends on the suspected condition. It may include:

* Full blood count, kidney tests, liver tests, inflammatory markers, and urine tests.
* Autoantibody tests, such as antinuclear antibody or disease-specific antibody tests.
* Hormone or organ-function tests when the thyroid, pancreas, liver, kidneys, or other organs may be involved.
* Imaging, such as X-ray, ultrasound, MRI, or CT, where inflammation or organ damage needs to be assessed.
* Biopsy, where tissue diagnosis is needed.
	* symptom history and examination;
	* blood tests for inflammation, blood counts, organ function and autoantibodies;
	* urine tests where kidney involvement is possible;
	* imaging such as X-ray, ultrasound or MRI;
	* biopsy in selected conditions;
	* referral to a specialist such as a rheumatologist, endocrinologist, gastroenterologist, neurologist or dermatologist.

Specialists may include rheumatologists, dermatologists, endocrinologists, neurologists, gastroenterologists, nephrologists, ophthalmologists, or haematologists, depending on the affected system.
	Autoantibody tests can be useful, but a positive result does not always prove disease. Results need to be interpreted with symptoms and examination findings.

== Treatment ==	== Treatment ==
Treatment is specific to the disease and its severity. The aim is usually to control inflammation, protect organs, reduce symptoms, and prevent avoidable complications.

Treatment may include:

* Anti-inflammatory medicines for pain and swelling.
* Corticosteroids for short-term control of inflammation or acute flares.
* Disease-modifying medicines that reduce immune activity over time.
* Biological medicines that target specific immune signals or immune cells.
* Hormone replacement, such as insulin in type 1 diabetes or thyroid hormone in some autoimmune thyroid disease.
* Diet changes where they are central to the disease, such as a gluten-free diet in coeliac disease.
* Physiotherapy, occupational therapy, eye care, skin care, mental health support, or specialist monitoring.

Some autoimmune disorders are mild and controlled with limited treatment. Others need long-term medicine and close follow-up because active disease or treatment side effects can be serious.

== Flares and Long-Term Management ==
Long-term management often means tracking symptoms, monitoring blood tests, adjusting medicines, and recognising patterns that precede a flare. Vaccination planning, infection risk, bone health, pregnancy planning, and mental health can also be part of care.

People taking immune-suppressing medicines may need extra monitoring. This can include blood counts, liver or kidney tests, infection screening, and advice about vaccines or pregnancy, depending on the medicine.
	Treatment depends on the disease, severity and organs involved. It may include pain control, anti-inflammatory medicine, corticosteroids, disease-modifying drugs, biologic medicines, hormone replacement, diet changes, physical therapy or organ-specific treatment.

== Complications ==
Complications vary widely. They may come from the disease itself, from repeated inflammation, from organ damage, or from the medicines used to control the immune system.
	Some treatments calm the immune system generally. Others target specific immune pathways. The aim is usually to reduce inflammation, prevent damage, control symptoms and keep the person functioning as well as possible.

Possible complications include:
	== Flares and Long-Term Care ==
	Many autoimmune diseases fluctuate. A flare is a period when symptoms or inflammation worsen. Triggers can include infection, stress, missed medicine, hormonal changes or unknown factors.

* Joint damage, nerve damage, kidney disease, bowel damage, or skin scarring, depending on the disorder.
* Anaemia, fatigue, pain, or reduced mobility.
* Higher risk of some infections when treatment suppresses immunity.
* Increased risk of another autoimmune condition.
* Effects on fertility, pregnancy, work, education, and daily life.
	Long-term care often involves monitoring blood tests, symptoms, medicine side effects and organ function. Some people have long stable periods. Others need repeated treatment changes.

Early diagnosis and consistent follow-up can reduce the chance of some complications, but outcomes differ between conditions.
	== Research ==
	Autoimmune disease research studies immune cells, genetics, infection links, tissue damage, sex differences, microbiome effects and targeted therapies. Better understanding of immune pathways has already changed treatment for conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis and inflammatory bowel disease.

== See Also ==	== See Also ==
* [[Immunosuppressant]]
* [[Systemic Lupus Erythematosus]]
* [[Type 1 Diabetes]]
* [[Coeliac Disease]]
* [[Schizophrenia]]
	* [[Rheumatoid_Arthritis]]
	* [[Celiac_Disease]]
	* [[Red_Blood_Cells]]
	* [[Diabetes]]

== References ==	== References ==
	* [https://www.niaid.nih.gov/diseases-conditions/autoimmune-diseases NIAID: Autoimmune diseases]
	* [https://www.niaid.nih.gov/diseases-conditions/autoimmune-disease-research NIAID: Autoimmune disease-specific research]
* [https://medlineplus.gov/autoimmunediseases.html MedlinePlus: Autoimmune diseases]	* [https://medlineplus.gov/autoimmunediseases.html MedlinePlus: Autoimmune diseases]
* [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK605884/ NCBI Bookshelf: Background on autoimmune diseases]
* [https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/rheumatoid-arthritis/ NHS: Rheumatoid arthritis]	* [https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/rheumatoid-arthritis/ NHS: Rheumatoid arthritis]
* [https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coeliac-disease/ NHS: Coeliac disease]
	* [https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/lupus/ NHS: Lupus]

[[Category:Medicine]]	[[Category:Medicine]]
[[Category:Immunology]]	[[Category:Immunology]]
[[Category:Autoimmune Disorders]]