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</div><div><span>Autoimmune disorders</span></div></div>
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</a><h1 class="with-also" itemprop="name">Autoimmune disorders</h1>
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</noscript></div><div class="main"><div id="ency_summary"><p>An autoimmune disorder occurs when <a test="test" href="./000821.htm">the body's immune system</a> attacks and destroys healthy body tissue by mistake. There are more than 80 autoimmune disorders.</p></div><section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>Causes</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-1" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
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</div></div><div class="section-body" id="section-1"><p>The blood cells in the body's immune system help protect against harmful substances. Examples include bacteria, viruses, <a test="test" href="./002331.htm">toxins</a>, <a test="test" href="./001289.htm">cancer</a> cells, and blood and tissue from outside the body. These substances contain antigens. The immune system produces <a test="test" href="./002223.htm">antibodies</a> against these antigens that enable it to destroy these harmful substances.</p><p>When you have an autoimmune disorder, your immune system does not distinguish between healthy tissue and potentially harmful antigens. As a result, your body sets off a reaction that destroys normal tissues. </p><p>The exact cause of autoimmune disorders is unknown. One theory is that some microorganisms (such as bacteria or viruses) or drugs may trigger changes that confuse the immune system. This may happen more often in people who have genes that make them more prone to autoimmune disorders.</p><p>An autoimmune disorder may result in:</p><ul><li>The destruction of body tissue</li><li>Abnormal growth of an organ</li><li>Changes in organ function </li></ul><p>An autoimmune disorder may affect one or more organ or tissue types. Areas often affected by autoimmune disorders include:</p><ul><li>Blood vessels</li><li>Connective tissues</li><li><a test="test" href="./002351.htm">Endocrine</a> glands such as the thyroid or pancreas</li><li>Joints</li><li>Muscles</li><li>Red blood cells</li><li>Skin </li></ul><p>A person may have more than one autoimmune disorder at the same time. Common autoimmune disorders include:</p><ul><li><a test="test" href="./000378.htm">Addison disease</a></li><li><a test="test" href="./000233.htm">Celiac disease - sprue</a> (gluten-sensitive enteropathy)</li><li><a test="test" href="./000839.htm">Dermatomyositis</a></li><li><a test="test" href="./000358.htm">Graves disease</a></li><li><a test="test" href="./000371.htm">Hashimoto thyroiditis</a></li><li>Inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn disease, ulcerative colitis)</li><li><a test="test" href="./000737.htm">Multiple sclerosis</a></li><li><a test="test" href="./000712.htm">Myasthenia gravis</a></li><li><a test="test" href="./000569.htm">Pernicious anemia</a></li><li><a test="test" href="./000440.htm">Reactive arthritis</a></li><li><a test="test" href="./000431.htm">Rheumatoid arthritis</a></li><li><a test="test" href="./000456.htm">Sjögren syndrome</a></li><li><a test="test" href="./000435.htm">Systemic lupus erythematosus</a> (lupus)</li><li><a test="test" href="./000305.htm">Type I diabetes</a></li></ul></div></div></section><section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>Symptoms</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-2" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
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</div></div><div class="section-body" id="section-2"><p>Symptoms will vary, based on the type and location of the faulty immune response. Common symptoms include:</p><ul><li><a test="test" href="./003088.htm">Fatigue</a></li><li><a test="test" href="./003090.htm">Fever</a></li><li><a test="test" href="./003089.htm">General ill feeling</a> (malaise)</li><li><a test="test" href="./003261.htm">Joint pain</a></li><li><a test="test" href="./003220.htm">Rash</a></li></ul></div></div></section><section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>Exams and Tests</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-3" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
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</div></div><div class="section-body" id="section-3"><p>Your health care provider will do a physical exam. Signs depend on the type of disease.</p><p>Tests that may be done to diagnose an autoimmune disorder include:</p><ul><li><a test="test" href="./003535.htm">Antinuclear antibody (ANA) tests</a></li><li>Autoantibody tests</li><li><a test="test" href="./003642.htm">Complete blood count (CBC)</a> with white blood cell differential (CBC with WBC differential)</li><li><a test="test" href="./003468.htm">Comprehensive metabolic panel</a></li><li><a test="test" href="./003356.htm">C-reactive protein (CRP)</a></li><li><a test="test" href="./003638.htm">Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR)</a></li><li><a test="test" href="./003579.htm">Urinalysis</a></li></ul></div></div></section><section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>Treatment</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-4" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
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</div></div><div class="section-body" id="section-4"><p>The goals of treatment are to:</p><ul><li>Control the autoimmune process</li><li>Maintain your body's ability to fight disease</li><li>Reduce symptoms</li></ul><p>Treatments will depend on your disease and symptoms. Types of treatments include:</p><ul><li>Supplements to replace a substance that the body lacks, such as thyroid hormone, vitamin B12, or insulin, due to the autoimmune disease</li><li>Blood transfusions if blood is affected</li><li>Physical therapy to help with movement if the bones, joints, or muscles are affected </li></ul><p>Many people take medicines to reduce the immune system's abnormal response. These are called immunosuppressive medicines. Examples include corticosteroids (such as prednisone) and nonsteroid drugs such as azathioprine, cyclophosphamide, mycophenolate, sirolimus, or tacrolimus. Targeted drugs such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF) blockers and Interleukin inhibitors can be used for some diseases.</p></div></div></section><section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>Outlook (Prognosis)</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-5" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
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</div></div><div class="section-body" id="section-5"><p>The outcome depends on the disease. Most autoimmune diseases are <a test="test" href="./002312.htm">chronic</a>, but many can be controlled with treatment.</p><p>Symptoms of autoimmune disorders can come and go. When symptoms get worse, it is called a flare-up.</p></div></div></section><section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>Possible Complications</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-6" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
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</div></div><div class="section-body" id="section-6"><p>Complications depend on the disease. Medicines used to suppress the immune system can cause severe side effects, such as higher risk for infections. </p></div></div></section><section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>When to Contact a Medical Professional</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-7" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
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</div></div><div class="section-body" id="section-7"><p>Contact your provider if you develop symptoms of an autoimmune disorder.</p></div></div></section><section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>Prevention</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-8" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
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</div></div><div class="section-body" id="section-8"><p>There is no known prevention for most autoimmune disorders.</p></div></div></section><section><div class="section sec-mb"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>Images</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-tnails" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
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<li><img src="//medlineplus.gov/ency/images/ency/tnails/17067t.jpg" alt="Graves disease" title="Graves disease" class="side-img"/><a href="../imagepages/17067.htm">Graves disease</a></li>
<li><img src="//medlineplus.gov/ency/images/ency/tnails/17068t.jpg" alt="Hashimoto's disease (chronic thyroiditis)" title="Hashimoto's disease (chronic thyroiditis)" class="side-img"/><a href="../imagepages/17068.htm">Hashimoto's disease (chronic thyroiditis)</a></li>
<li><img src="//medlineplus.gov/ency/images/ency/tnails/17089t.jpg" alt="Multiple sclerosis" title="Multiple sclerosis" class="side-img"/><a href="../imagepages/17089.htm">Multiple sclerosis</a></li>
<li><img src="//medlineplus.gov/ency/images/ency/tnails/17128t.jpg" alt="Rheumatoid arthritis" title="Rheumatoid arthritis" class="side-img"/><a href="../imagepages/17128.htm">Rheumatoid arthritis</a></li>
<li><img src="//medlineplus.gov/ency/images/ency/tnails/17129t.jpg" alt="Rheumatoid arthritis" title="Rheumatoid arthritis" class="side-img"/><a href="../imagepages/17129.htm">Rheumatoid arthritis</a></li>
<li><img src="//medlineplus.gov/ency/images/ency/tnails/17134t.jpg" alt="Systemic lupus erythematosus" title="Systemic lupus erythematosus" class="side-img"/><a href="../imagepages/17134.htm">Systemic lupus erythematosus</a></li>
<li><img src="//medlineplus.gov/ency/images/ency/tnails/19698t.jpg" alt="Synovial fluid" title="Synovial fluid" class="side-img"/><a href="../imagepages/19698.htm">Synovial fluid</a></li>
<li><img src="//medlineplus.gov/ency/images/ency/tnails/19712t.jpg" alt="Rheumatoid arthritis" title="Rheumatoid arthritis" class="side-img"/><a href="../imagepages/19712.htm">Rheumatoid arthritis</a></li>
<li><img src="//medlineplus.gov/ency/images/ency/tnails/9069t.jpg" alt="Antibodies" title="Antibodies" class="side-img"/><a href="../imagepages/9069.htm">Antibodies</a></li>
</ul></div></div></section><section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>References</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-Ref" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
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</div></div><div class="section-body" id="section-Ref"><p>Kono DH, Theofilopoulos AN. Autoimmunity and tolerance. In: Firestein GS, Budd RC, Gabriel SE, Koretzky GA, McInnes IB, O'Dell JR, eds. <em>Firestein &amp; Kelley's Textbook of Rheumatology</em>. 11th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 22.</p><p>Kumar V, Abbas AK, Aster JC. Diseases of the immune system. In: Kumar V, Abbas AK, Aster JC, eds. <em>Robbins and Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease</em>. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 6.</p><p>Peakman M, Buckland MS. The immunity. In: Feather A, Randall D, Waterhouse M, eds. <em>Kumar and Clarke's Clinical Medicine</em>. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 3.</p></div></div></section>
<section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>Review Date 6/12/2023</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-version" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
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<div id="section-version" class="section-body"><p>Updated by: Jacob Berman, MD, MPH, Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.</p>
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