Autoimmune diseases

Autoimmune diseases: Introduction

Autoimmune diseases: The word "auto" is the Greek word for self. The immune system is a complicated network of cells and cell components (called molecules) that normally work to defend ... more about Autoimmune diseases.

Autoimmune diseases: A group of disorders in which the primary cause is the an inflammatory reaction caused by the body's own immune system attacking tissues. More detailed information about the symptoms, causes, and treatments of Autoimmune diseases is available below.

Symptoms of Autoimmune diseases

• Fever
• Cough
• CNS signs
• Haemoptysis
• Cough
• more symptoms...»

See full list of 9 symptoms of Autoimmune diseases

Home Diagnostic Testing

Home medical testing related to Autoimmune diseases:

• Allergies -- Related Home Tests
  • Home Allergy Testing
  • Home Mold Tests
  • Home Food Intolerance Tests
  • Home Radon Tests
  • Home Water Tests
  • Home Lung Function Testing
• more tests...»

Medical Textbooks Online about Autoimmune diseases

Book excerpts: Copyright © 2008 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. All rights reserved.

Wrongly Diagnosed with Autoimmune diseases?

• Misdiagnosis of Autoimmune diseases
• Failure to diagnose Autoimmune diseases
• Hidden causes of Autoimmune diseases (possibly wrongly diagnosed)
• Undiagnosed: Autoimmune diseases

Misdiagnosis and Autoimmune diseases

Adrenal gland disorder difficult to correctly diagnose: Addison's disease, a disorder of the adrenal glands, causes a variety of symptoms, and is often...read more »

Cushing's disease can be mistaken for depression: Cushing's disease (or similarly Cushing's syndrome) is a possible misdiagnosis for a person diagnosed with depression. It is an endocrine disorder...read more »

Read more about Misdiagnosis and Autoimmune diseases

Autoimmune diseases: Research Doctors & Specialists

Research related physicians and medical specialists:

• Poisoning / Toxicology Specialists:
  • Medical Toxicology (Poisoning Specialists)
  • Pediatric Medical Toxicology (Child Poisoning)
• more specialists...»

Other doctor, physician and specialist research services:

• Rate Your Doctor Online
• Research Your Doctor Online
• Review Patient Surveys About Your Doctor
• Research local specialists including ratings, affiliations, and sanctions.

Causes of Autoimmune diseases

Read more about causes of Autoimmune diseases.

More information about causes of Autoimmune diseases:

• Medications, drugs, or substances causing Autoimmune diseases (6 listings)
• Autoimmune diseases as a complication caused by other conditions
• Autoimmune diseases as a symptom
• Medical news summaries relating to Causes of Autoimmune diseases

Treatments for Autoimmune diseases

• Treatments vary for specific diseases but may include
• Hormone replacement therapy - for autoimmune diseases damaging hormone glands.
• Enzyme replacement therapy - for autoimmune diseases damaging enzyme-producing glands.
• Corticosteroids
  • Prednisone
• more treatments...»

See full list of 13 treatments for Autoimmune diseases

News Archives for Autoimmune diseases

Medical news articles related to Autoimmune diseases include:

• Autoimmune Disease Treatment May Not Dampen Immune System
• Herb May Offer Hope for Autoimmune Diseases
• Leprosy Drug Holds Promise for Autoimmune Diseases
• Scientists Discover Trigger for Autoimmune Diseases
• B Cells Can Act Alone in Autoimmune Diseases
• Health Tip: Understanding Autoimmune Diseases
• Researcher IDs Narcolepsy as Autoimmune Disease
• FDA Starts Safety Review of Autoimmune Disorder Drugs
• more health news...»

Source: HealthDay News

Evidence Based Medicine Research for Autoimmune diseases

Medical research articles related to Autoimmune diseases include:

• Thrombosis in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and Other Autoimmune Diseases of Recent Onset
• Intravenous immunoglobulin for chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy
• Uveitis and Iritis
• Clinical features of haemophagocytic syndrome in patients with systemic autoimmune diseases: analysis of 30 cases
• Can a Levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system (LNG-IUS)be used in a woman currently on tacrolimus and prednisolone following renal transplant secondary to sickle cell disease and is there a need to use prophylactic antibiotics?
• HHV-6A in syncytial giant-cell hepatitis.
• more research...»

Click here to find more evidence-based articles on the TRIP Database

Videos for Autoimmune diseases

Patient Surveys for Autoimmune diseases

• Patient Profile Survey
  Take Survey  View Results
• Survey about the symptoms of your Autoimmune diseases
  Take Survey  View Results

Prognosis for Autoimmune diseases

Prognosis for Autoimmune diseases: Although autoimmune diseases are chronic, the course they take is unpredictable. A doctor cannot foresee what will happen to the patient based on how the disease starts. Patients should be monitored closely by their doctors so environmental factors or triggers that may worsen the disease can be discussed and avoided and new medical therapy can be started as soon as possible. Frequent visits to a doctor are important in order for the physician to manage complex treatment regimens and watch for medication side effects. (Source: excerpt from Understanding Autoimmune Disease: NIAID)

More about prognosis of Autoimmune diseases

Reseach about Autoimmune diseases

Visit our research pages for current research about Autoimmune diseases treatments.

Clinical Trials for Autoimmune diseases

The US based website ClinicalTrials.gov lists information on both federally and privately supported clinical trials using human volunteers.

Some of the clinical trials listed on ClinicalTrials.gov for Autoimmune diseases include:

• A Pilot Study of Mitoxantrone for the Treatment of Recurrent Neuromyelitis Optica (Devics Disease) - This study has been completed (Current: 23 Nov 2006) - Mitoxantrone
• Treatment of Multiple Sclerosis With Copaxone and Albuterol - This study is no longer recruiting patients (Current: 23 Nov 2006) - Glatiramer acetate,Albuterol
• Study of Silicone-Associated Connective Tissue Diseases - This study has been completed (Current: 23 Nov 2006)
• Safety and Efficacy Study of LJP 394 (Abetimus Sodium) to Treat Lupus Kidney Disease - This study has been completed (Current: 23 Nov 2006) - Abetimus sodium (LJP 394)
• Study and Treatment of Inflammatory Muscle Diseases - This study is currently recruiting patients (Current: 23 Nov 2006)
• more trials...»

See full list of 878 Clinical Trials for Autoimmune diseases

Statistics for Autoimmune diseases

• Medical statistics for Autoimmune diseases
• Prevalence and incidence statistics for Autoimmune diseases
• Death and Mortality statistics for Autoimmune diseases
• Society statistics for Autoimmune diseases

Autoimmune diseases: Broader Related Topics

• Immune disorders
• Allergic Disorders
• Adolescent conditions
• more types...»

Types of Autoimmune diseases

Types of Autoimmune diseases

• Possibly Autoimmune Diseases
• Type 1 diabetes
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Autoimmune thyroid diseases
• Graves Disease
• more types...»

See full list of 62 Types of Autoimmune diseases

Stories from Users Related to Autoimmune diseases

• autoimmune disease
• CFS? Autoimmune? Hypo? TB? Celiatic? IBS? What else????
• What kind of Autoimmune Disease is this?
• undiagnosed autoimmune flare up
• autoimmune and hives/rashes
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• it is autoimmune or all in my head? you choose
• Undiagnosed autoimmune disease
• Autoimmune undiag.??? Does this sound familiar to anyone?
• Autoimmune disorder
• which autoimmune disorder? 4 years and still undiagnosed..
• Autoimmune disease? Please help!
• baby sick with recurrent infections. autoimmune??
• 6 things that point to autoimmune issues! What is it?
• many autoimmune symptoms and no diagnosis
• help me- are there anymore tests, ?? any suggestions? could certain tests not be sens
• MS? other autoimmune? DESPERATE
• Is this an autoimmune disease?!
• undiagnosed autoimmune flare up
• autoimmune disease?

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User Interactive Forums

Read about other experiences, ask a question about Autoimmune diseases, or answer someone else's question, on our message boards:

• I can not get a diagnosis. Please help.
• Tell us your medical story.
• Share your misdiagnosis story.
• What is the best treatment for this?
• See all the forums.

Article Excerpts about Autoimmune diseases

Understanding Autoimmune Disease: NIAID (Excerpt)

The word "auto" is the Greek word for self. The immune system is a complicated network of cells and cell components (called molecules) that normally work to defend the body and eliminate infections caused by bacteria, viruses, and other invading microbes. If a person has an autoimmune disease, the immune system mistakenly attacks self, targeting the cells, tissues, and organs of a person's own body. A collection of immune system cells and molecules at a target site is broadly referred to as inflammation. (Source: excerpt from Understanding Autoimmune Disease: NIAID)

Autoimmune Diseases: NWHIC (Excerpt)

The term "autoimmune disease" refers to a varied group of more than 80 serious, chronic illnesses that involve almost every human organ system. In all of these diseases, the underlying problem is similar--the body's immune system becomes misdirected, attacking the very organs it was designed to protect. About 75% of autoimmune diseases occur in women, most frequently during the childbearing years. Autoimmune diseases can affect connective tissue. (This is the tissue which binds together various tissues and organs.) It can also affect the nerves, muscles, endocrine system, and gastrointestinal system. (Source: excerpt from Autoimmune Diseases: NWHIC)

Fact Sheet Autoimmune Disease in Women: NWHIC (Excerpt)

The term "autoimmune disease" refers to a varied group of more than 80 serious, chronic illnesses that involve almost every human organ system. It includes diseases of the nervous, gastrointestinal, and endocrine systems, as well as skin and other connective tissues, eyes, blood, and blood vessels. In all of these diseases, the underlying problem is similar--the body's immune system becomes misdirected, attacking the very organs it was designed to protect. (Source: excerpt from Fact Sheet Autoimmune Disease in Women: NWHIC)

Definitions of Autoimmune diseases:

Autoimmune Status; the state of a person's health in regard to autoimmune disease or antibody presence. - (Source - Diseases Database)

Any of a large group of diseases characterized by abnormal functioning of the immune system that causes your immune system to produce antibodies against your own tissues - (Source - WordNet 2.1)