Autoimmune Diseases Overview

Autoimmune Diseases Overview

• Autoimmune diseases occur when the immune system mistakenly attacks the body's healthy cells and tissues.
• The immune system is designed to defend against foreign invaders (pathogens), but in autoimmune diseases, it targets the body's own organs, tissues, or cells.
• Autoimmune diseases affect millions globally and can impact any organ system.

Types of Autoimmune Diseases

• The presentation lists multiple autoimmune diseases affecting various body systems. Some examples include: Multiple Sclerosis, Fibromyalgia, Thyroiditis, Lupus, Rheumatoid Arthritis, and Type 1 Diabetes.

How the Immune System Works Normally

• The immune system protects the body from harmful invaders like bacteria, viruses, and fungi.
• Key components include Innate Immunity (the first line of defense, e.g., barriers, macrophages) and Adaptive Immunity (targets specific pathogens, e.g., T-cells, B-cells, antibodies).
• A healthy immune system has tolerance mechanisms preventing it from attacking itself (e.g., central and peripheral tolerance).

Pathophysiology of Autoimmune Diseases

• Loss of self-tolerance is central to autoimmune diseases. The immune system fails to distinguish 'self' from 'non-self', leading to attacks on the body's own tissues.
• Key factors include genetic predisposition, environmental triggers (infections, drugs, toxins), and a dysregulated immune system.
• Immune cells (T-cells, B-cells), cytokines, and autoantibodies play crucial roles in the disease process.

Types of Autoimmune Diseases

• Organ-Specific: Affect specific organs or tissues (e.g., Type 1 Diabetes, multiple sclerosis).
• Systemic: Affect multiple organs and systems (e.g., Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, Rheumatoid Arthritis).

Common Symptoms

• General symptoms: fatigue, fever, joint pain, skin rashes, muscle weakness.
• Organ-specific symptoms vary based on affected organs.

Diagnosis

• Clinical evaluation (physical exam, medical history).
• Laboratory tests (blood tests for autoantibodies, imaging techniques like X-rays, MRI, or ultrasound).
• Biopsy (tissue samples, if needed).

Treatment

• Immunosuppressive medications (reduce immune system activity).
• Corticosteroids (reduce inflammation).
• Disease-Modifying Anti-Rheumatic Drugs (DMARDs) (target specific immune components).
• Biologics (target specific immune proteins).
• Symptom management (pain relief, physical therapy, lifestyle adjustments).
• Surgical interventions (in cases of organ damage).

Impact of Autoimmune Diseases

• Quality of life: chronic pain, fatigue, and disability can impact daily living.
• Economic impact: high healthcare costs, disability, and loss of productivity.
• Psychosocial impact: mental health challenges like depression and anxiety due to chronic illness.

Risk Factors

• Genetic predisposition (family history of autoimmune diseases).
• Gender (women more prone than men).
• Environmental triggers (infections, smoking, medications, sun exposure).
• Age (many develop in young adulthood or middle age).

Research and Future Directions

• Biological research: investigating underlying mechanisms, genetic risk factors, and immune regulation.
• New therapies: personalized medicine, gene therapy, more targeted treatments.
• Preventive approaches: early diagnosis, vaccination/prevention, lifestyle/environmental modifications.