This book describes The Autoimmune Diseases, Diagnosis and Treatment and Related Diseases
An auto immune disease is a disease of the human body where the abnormal cells of the body attack its own cells:
1. In the joints as in Rheumatoid arthritis
2. In the skin as in psoriasis
3. In the muscles as in Myasthenia gravis
4. Throughout the body as in Systemic Lupus Erythematosis.
An autoimmune disorder happens when the body's immune system attacks and wipes out healthy body tissue by mistake.
The blood cells in the body's immune system help defend against harmful materials.
The harmful substances are bacteria, viruses, toxins, cancer cells, and blood and tissue from outside the body.
These substances have antigens.
The immune system forms antibodies against these antigens that allow it to destroy these harmful substances.
When the patient has an autoimmune disorder, the immune system does not differentiate between healthy tissue and antigens.
As a result, the body produces a reaction that kills normal tissues.
The immune system normally defends against germs like bacteria and viruses.
Normally, the immune system can tell the distinction between foreign cells and the own cells.
In an autoimmune disease, the immune system inaccurately identifies the part of the body, like the joints or skin, as foreign.
It secretes proteins called auto-antibodies that fight healthy cells.
Rheumatoid arthritis injures the joint.
Other diseases, like systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), involve the whole body.
The precise cause of autoimmune disorders is not known.
Genetics, diet, infections, and exposure to chemicals might be some of the causes.
One belief is that some microorganisms (such as bacteria or viruses) or drugs may activate alterations that cause confusion in the immune system.
This may occur more often in people who have genes that make them more vulnerable to autoimmune diseases.
Doctors do not know precisely what induces the immune-system to misfire.
Some people tend more likely to have an autoimmune disease than others.
Based on a 2014 study, women have autoimmune diseases at a rate of about 2 to 1 compared to men.
Often the disease begins during a woman’s childbearing years (ages 15 to 44).
Some autoimmune diseases are more frequent in certain ethnic groups.
Certain autoimmune diseases, like multiple sclerosis and lupus, are inherited in families.
Since the incidence of autoimmune diseases is rising, doctors believe environmental factors like infections and exposure to chemicals
An autoimmune disorder may cause:
1.The destruction of body tissue
2.Abnormal growth of an organ
3.Changes in organ function
No single test can diagnose most autoimmune diseases.
A positive antinuclear antibody (ANA) blood test may suggest an autoimmune disease
The treatments cannot cure autoimmune diseases but they can control the overactive immune reaction.
Immune-suppressing drugs can reduce the symptoms and relieve the inflammation
TABLE OF CONTENT
Introduction
Chapter 1 Autoimmune Diseases
Chapter 2 Myasthenia
Chapter 3 Systemic Lupus Erythematosis
Chapter 4 Rheumatoid Arthritis
Chapter 5 Psoriasis
Chapter 6 Multiple Sclerosis
Chapter 7 Inflammatory Bowel Disease (Crohn Disease)
Chapter 8 Ulcerative Colitis
Chapter 9 Addison’s Disease
Chapter 10 Grave’s Disease
Chapter 11 Sjogren Disease
Chapter 12 Hashimoto thyroiditis
Chapter 13 Vasculitis
Chapter 14 Autoimmune Hepatitis
Chapter 15 Pernicious Anemia
Chapter 16 Celiac Disease
Chapter 17 Myocarditis
Chapter 18 Interstitial Cystitis
Chapter 19 Alopecia areata
Chapter 20 Guillian Barre
Chapter 21 Giant Cell Arteritis
Chapter 22 Systemic Sclerosis
Chapter 23 Wegener Granulomatosis
Chapter 24 Still Disease
Chapter 25 Felty Disease
Chapter 26 Ankylosing spondylitis
Chapter 27 Dermatomyositis
Chapter 28 Polymyositis
Chapter 29 Kawasaki
Chapter 30 Pemphigus vulgaris
Chapter 31 Type I Diabetes
Epilogue
