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Introduction
A disorder during which your immune system wrongly targets your body is known as autoimmune disease. Normally, the immune system protects us against bacteria and viruses. It sends forth an army of warrior cells to attack these foreign invaders when it detects them. The immune system cannot identify parts of your body, such as your joints or skin, as an alien in autoimmune disease. To attack healthy cells, autoantibodies are proteins released by the body.
Auto-Immune Disorders
Normally, your immune system can distinguish between alien and native cells.
Sometimes autoimmune disorders target only one organ. Type 1 diabetes harms the pancreas. An example of a disease that affects the entire body is systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).
The reason behind this is unknown. Some autoimmune illnesses, such as lupus, occur in families, and infections or other environmental factors may trigger some cases. Celiac disease, diabetes mellitus type 1, Graves’ disease, inflammatory bowel disease, multiple sclerosis, psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, and systemic lupus erythematosus are the most common autoimmune disorders. It’s hard to figure out what’s wrong.
The most common autoimmune disorders are listed below
Rheumatoid arthritis is an arthritic condition that affects the joints.
Psoriasis is a skin disorder characterized by thick, scaly patches.
Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a chronic, inflammatory disease of the joints where tendons and ligaments connect to bone. Psoriatic arthritis can affect joints on one or both sides of your body.
Lupus is a disease that affects the body’s joints, skin, and organs.
Thyroid illnesses include Graves’ disease, in which the body produces too much thyroid hormone (hyperthyroidism), and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, in which the body produces insufficient thyroid hormone (hypothyroidism).
Autoimmune Hepatitis
Autoimmune hepatitis is a chronic disorder in which your immune system assaults your liver, causing inflammation and liver damage. If left untreated, autoimmune hepatitis can worsen and lead to cirrhosis and other problems.
Two Types of Autoimmune Hepatitis
Type 1- Autoimmune hepatitis: type 1- autoimmune hepatitis is the most frequent type of autoimmune disorder. It can strike anyone at any age. Roughly half of the persons with type 1 autoimmune hepatitis also have rheumatoid arthritis, celiac disease, or ulcerative colitis.
Type 2- Autoimmune hepatitis: while type 2 autoimmune hepatitis can affect adults, it is most common in children and teenagers. Other autoimmune disorders may accompany this kind of autoimmune hepatitis.
Symptoms & causes
Tiredness
Joint discomfort
Mild flu-like symptoms
Nausea
Itching
low appetite
pain over the liver and jaundice
Yellowing of the skin and eyes
These are a few of the common autoimmune hepatitis symptoms. Some patients have no symptoms when diagnosed, although symptoms may arise later. The exact cause of autoimmune hepatitis is unknown.
Risk Factors
Being afflicted with an autoimmune disease. People with celiac disease, rheumatoid arthritis, or hyperthyroidism are more likely to develop autoimmune hepatitis
Being a woman. Although both women and men can get autoimmune hepatitis, females are more likely to get it
Heredity. According to evidence, a propensity to autoimmune hepatitis appears to run in families
Diagnosis and Treatment
Medications that restrict or reduce the activity of your immune system are used to treat autoimmune hepatitis, lowering your immune system’s attack on your liver. Doctors often begin with a high dosage of corticosteroids and progressively reduce the amount. Your doctor may work with you to discover the lowest effective dose. Blood tests will be used by your doctor to see how you are reacting to the medication. Your medical history, physical exam, blood testing, imaging tests, and liver biopsy are all used to identify autoimmune hepatitis. Autoimmune hepatitis or other liver illnesses can be detected through blood tests. Surgical resection can be used to test for signs of autoimmune hepatitis and to rule out cirrhosis.
Autoimmune Encephalitis
Autoimmune encephalitis is a term used to describe a set of disorders in which the body’s immune system destroys healthy brain cells causing inflammation in the brain. A person suffering from autoimmune encephalitis may experience various neurologic and mental symptoms.
There are two types of encephalitis: acute and chronic
Primary encephalitis is a type of encephalitis that affects the brain. This situation results when a virus or other agent penetrates the brain directly. The illness may be localized or widespread. A primary infection could be the reactivation of a dormant virus during a previous sickness.
Secondary encephalitis is a type of encephalitis that affects the brain. Defective immune system response to an infection elsewhere in the body causes this illness. Instead of attacking the infection-causing cells solely, the immune system mistakenly destroys healthy brain cells. Secondary encephalitis, also known as post-infection encephalitis, occurs two to three weeks following the first illness.
Causes and Symptoms
Headache, fever, nausea, and muscle soreness are common flu-like symptoms in the early stages of the disease. Later symptoms, such as a decreased level of consciousness and the possibility of coma, may be more severe. Psychiatric symptoms might arise, then go, and then reappear.
Factors that are at risk
Age: Certain kinds of encephalitis are more common or more severe in some age groups. Most types of viral encephalitis put young children and older individuals at a higher risk
The immune system is weakened: Encephalitis is more likely in those with HIV/AIDS, who take immunosuppressive medicines or have another illness that weakens the immune system
Regions of the world: Viruses spread by mosquitoes or ticks are frequent in certain geographical areas
The time of year: In many parts of the United States, mosquito- and tick-borne diseases are more prevalent in the summer
Diagnosis
Clinical manifestations of AE overlap with other inflammatory brain illnesses, infections, metabolic diseases, and mental health issues. This makes it difficult to accurately diagnose AE in patients. Simultaneously, early detection is critical to avoid major problems. The identification of auto-Abs, EEG, MRI, functional neuroimaging, and work-up for systemic malignancies are all part of the laboratory diagnosis of autoimmune encephalitis.
Distinct forms of AE with antibodies present in both children and adults have different diagnostic criteria. However, not everyone with AE has an anti-neuronal antibody that can be identified. Anti-neuronal antibody testing may be useful in diagnosing AE; however, patient symptoms and other test findings are critical in comprehending antibody test results.
Conclusion
Despite their tissue and diversity heterogeneity, all autoimmune disorders can be traced back to a breakdown in self-tolerance or dysregulation of innate immunity. Like other acquired disorders, Autoimmunity is caused by a complex interaction of genetic predisposition, environmental factors, and ill-defined stochastic effects. Immunosuppressive therapy remains a necessary evil, even though tailored medicines have changed the care of patients with autoimmune illness.
