Cause of autoimmune diseases. Autoimmune diseases: causes, diagnosis, treatment

Autoimmune diseases is a group of diseases in which the destruction of organs and tissues of the body occurs under the influence of its own immune system.

The most common autoimmune diseases are scleroderma, systemic lupus erythematosus, autoimmune thyroiditis Hashimoto, diffuse toxic goiter, etc.

In addition, the development of many diseases (myocardial infarction, viral hepatitis, streptococcal, herpes, cytomegalovirus infections) may be complicated by the appearance of an autoimmune reaction.

The immune system

The immune system is the system that protects the body from external invaders and also ensures the functioning circulatory system and much more. Invading elements are recognized as foreign, and this causes a protective (immune) reaction.

Invading elements are called antigens. Viruses, bacteria, fungi, transplanted tissues and organs, pollen, chemical substances are all antigens. The immune system is made up of special bodies and cells throughout the body. In complexity, the immune system is slightly inferior to the nervous system.

The immune system that destroys all foreign microorganisms must be tolerant to the cells and tissues of its "master". The ability to distinguish "self" from "foreign" is the main property of the immune system.

But sometimes, like any multicomponent structure with thin regulatory mechanisms, it malfunctions - it takes its own molecules and cells for strangers and attacks them. To date, more than 80 autoimmune diseases are known; and in the world hundreds of millions of people are sick with them.

Tolerance to its own molecules is not inherent in the body initially. It is formed during prenatal development and immediately after birth, when the immune system is in the process of maturation and "training". If a foreign molecule or cell enters the body before birth, then it is perceived by the body for life as "its own".

At the same time, in the blood of every person, among the billions of lymphocytes, "traitors" periodically appear, which attack the body of their owner. Normally, such cells, called autoimmune or autoreactive, are quickly neutralized or destroyed.

The mechanism of development of autoimmune diseases

The mechanisms of development of autoimmune reactions are the same as in the case of an immune response to exposure to foreign agents, with the only difference being that specific antibodies and/or T-lymphocytes begin to be produced in the body, attacking and destroying the body's own tissues.

Why is this happening? To date, the causes of most autoimmune diseases remain unclear. "Under attack" can be both individual bodies and body systems.

Causes of Autoimmune Diseases

The production of pathological antibodies or pathological killer cells may be associated with infection of the body with such an infectious agent, the antigenic determinants (epitopes) of the most important proteins of which resemble the antigenic determinants of normal host tissues. It is by this mechanism that autoimmune glomerulonephritis develops after undergoing streptococcal infection, or autoimmune reactive arthritis after gonorrhea.

An autoimmune reaction may also be associated with the destruction or necrosis of tissues caused by an infectious agent, or a change in their antigenic structure so that the pathologically altered tissue becomes immunogenic for the host organism. It is by this mechanism that autoimmune chronic active hepatitis develops after hepatitis B.

The third possible cause of an autoimmune reaction is a violation of the integrity of tissue (histohematic) barriers that normally separate some organs and tissues from the blood and, accordingly, from the immune aggression of the host's lymphocytes.

At the same time, since normally the antigens of these tissues do not enter the blood at all, the thymus normally does not produce a negative selection (destruction) of autoaggressive lymphocytes against these tissues. But this does not interfere with the normal functioning of the organ as long as the tissue barrier separating this body from blood.

It is by this mechanism that chronic autoimmune prostatitis develops: normally, the prostate is separated from the blood by a hemato-prostatic barrier, prostate tissue antigens do not enter the bloodstream, and the thymus does not destroy “anti-prostatic” lymphocytes. But with inflammation, trauma or infection of the prostate, the integrity of the hemato-prostatic barrier is violated and auto-aggression against prostate tissue can begin.

Autoimmune thyroiditis develops according to a similar mechanism, since colloid is normally thyroid gland it also does not enter the bloodstream (hemato-thyroid barrier), only thyroglobulin with its associated T3 and T4 is released into the blood.

There are cases when, after suffering a traumatic amputation of the eye, a person quickly loses the second eye: immune cells perceive tissues healthy eye as an antigen, because before that they lysed the remnants of the tissues of the destroyed eye.

The fourth possible cause of the autoimmune reaction of the body is a hyperimmune state (pathologically enhanced immunity) or an immunological imbalance with a violation of the "selector", suppressing autoimmunity, thymus function or with a decrease in the activity of the T-suppressor subpopulation of cells and an increase in the activity of killer and helper subpopulations.

Symptoms of autoimmune diseases

The symptoms of autoimmune diseases can be very different, depending on the type of disease. Several blood tests are usually required to confirm that a person has an autoimmune disorder. Autoimmune diseases are treated with drugs that suppress the activity of the immune system.

Antigens can be found in cells or on the surface of cells (for example, bacteria, viruses, or cancer cells). Some antigens, such as pollen or food molecules, exist on their own.

Even healthy tissue cells can have antigens. Normally, the immune system reacts only to antigens of foreign or hazardous substances, however, as a result of some disorders, it can begin to produce antibodies to cells of normal tissues - autoantibodies.

An autoimmune reaction can lead to inflammation and tissue damage. Sometimes, however, autoantibodies are produced in such small amount that autoimmune diseases do not develop.

Diagnosis of autoimmune diseases

Diagnosis of autoimmune diseases is based on the determination of the immune factor that causes damage to the organs and tissues of the body. Such specific factors have been identified for most autoimmune diseases.

For example, in the diagnosis of rheumatism, rheumatoid factor is determined, in the diagnosis systemic lupus– LES cells, anti-nucleus (ANA) and anti-DNA antibodies, scleroderma Scl-70 antibodies.

Various laboratory immunological methods are used to determine these markers. Clinical development disease and disease symptoms can provide useful information for establishing a diagnosis of an autoimmune disease.

The development of scleroderma is characterized by skin lesions (foci of limited edema, which slowly undergo compaction and atrophy, the formation of wrinkles around the eyes, smoothing of the skin relief), damage to the esophagus with impaired swallowing, thinning of the terminal phalanges of the fingers, diffuse damage to the lungs, heart and kidneys.

Lupus erythematosus is characterized by the appearance on the skin of the face (on the back of the nose and under the eyes) of a specific redness in the form of a butterfly, joint damage, the presence of anemia and thrombocytopenia. Rheumatism is characterized by the appearance of arthritis after suffering a sore throat and the later formation of defects in the valvular apparatus of the heart.

Treatment of autoimmune diseases

Autoimmune disorders are treated with drugs that suppress the activity of the immune system. However, many of these medications interfere with the body's ability to fight disease. Immunosuppressants such as azathioprine, chlorambucil, cyclophosphamide, cyclosporine, mofetil, and methotrexate often need to be taken for a long time.

During such therapy, the risk of developing many diseases, including cancer, increases. Corticosteroids not only suppress the immune system, but also reduce inflammation. The course of taking corticosteroids should be as short as possible - with long-term use they cause many side effects.

Etanercept, infliximab, and adalimumab block the activity of tumor necrosis factor, a substance that can cause inflammation in the body. These drugs are very effective in treating rheumatoid arthritis, but they can be harmful if used to treat certain other autoimmune diseases, such as multiple sclerosis.

Sometimes plasmapheresis is used to treat autoimmune diseases: abnormal antibodies are removed from the blood, after which the blood is transfused back to the person. Some autoimmune diseases go away as suddenly as they start over time. However, in most cases they are chronic and often require lifelong treatment.

Descriptions of autoimmune diseases

Questions and answers on the topic "Autoimmune diseases"

Question:Hello. I was diagnosed with PSA and prescribed Metojekt 10 times a week for 3 years. What risk to the body will I get by taking this medicine?

Answer: You can find this information in the instructions for use of the drug in the sections: " Side effects", "Contraindications" and "Special Instructions".

Question:Hello. How can I organize my life after being diagnosed with an autoimmune disease?

Answer: Hello. Although most autoimmune diseases will not go away completely, you can take symptomatic treatment to control the disease, and continue to enjoy life! Your life goals should not change. It is very important to visit a specialist in this type of disease, follow the treatment plan and healthy lifestyle life.

Question:Hello. Relieves nasal congestion and malaise. IN immune status talk about the autoimmune process in the body. The same goes for chronic inflammation. In December, she was diagnosed with tonsillitis, cryodestruction of the tonsils was made - the problem remained. Should I continue to be treated by Laura or look for an immunologist? Whether it is possible to cure it in general?

Answer: Hello. In a situation where there is chronic infection and changes in the immune status, you need to be treated by both an immunologist and an ENT - everyone does their own thing, but in full agreement and understanding of the problem. In most cases, good results are achieved.

Question:Hello, I am 27 years old. I have been diagnosed with autoimmune thyroiditis for 7 years. She was prescribed to take L-thyroxin 50 mcg tablets regularly. But I have heard and read articles that this drug strongly plants the liver and that in the west doctors prescribe it for a course of 2 months no more. Please tell me, do I need to take L-thyroxin all the time or is it really better sometimes, in courses?

Answer: L-thyroxine completely safe drug approved for use in children with infancy and pregnant women. I don't know what articles and where you read about negative effects L-thyroxine, but we prescribe it for a long time if necessary. The decision is made based on the level of hormones.

Question:I am 55 years old. 3 years no hair anywhere. The cause of universal alopecia could not be determined. Perhaps the reason is in the autoimmune process. What is it coming from? How to test for an autoimmune disease? What is the connection with alopecia? What tests to take, which specialist to contact?

Answer: Trichologists deal with hair diseases. You should probably contact such a specialist. To detect the presence of an autoimmune disease, one must pass ( minimum set examinations) general analysis blood, protein and protein fractions, make an immunogram (CD4, CD8, their ratio), based on the results of this examination, the doctor will decide whether to continue a more in-depth search for the autoimmune process. For your other questions, modern science There is no exact answer, there are only assumptions, let's go back to the beginning, trichologists are the best at understanding this problem.

What are autoimmune diseases? Their list is very wide and includes about 80 diseases that are heterogeneous in course and clinical signs, which, however, are united by a single development mechanism: for reasons still unknown to medicine, the immune system accepts cells own organism for "enemies" and begins to destroy them.

One organ can get into the attack zone - then we are talking about the organ-specific form. If two or more organs are affected, then we are dealing with a systemic disease. Some of them can run like systemic manifestations, and without them, for example rheumatoid arthritis. Some diseases are characterized by simultaneous damage to different organs, while others systemicity appears only in the case of progression.

These are the most unpredictable diseases: they can suddenly appear and disappear just as spontaneously; appear once in a lifetime and never bother a person again; rapidly progress and end lethal outcome... But most often they take chronic form and require lifelong treatment.

Systemic autoimmune diseases. List

What other systemic autoimmune diseases are there? The list can be continued with such pathologies as:

• dermatopolymyositis is a severe, rapidly progressive lesion of connective tissue with involvement of transversely smooth muscles, skin, and internal organs in the process;
• which is characterized by venous thrombosis;
• Sarcoidosis is a multisystemic granulomatous disease that most commonly affects the lungs, but also the heart, kidneys, liver, brain, spleen, reproductive and endocrine systems, gastrointestinal tract, and other organs.

Organ-specific and mixed forms

Organ-specific types include primary myxedema, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, thyrotoxicosis ( diffuse goiter), autoimmune gastritis, pernicious anemia, (adrenal cortex insufficiency), and myasthenia gravis.

Of the mixed forms, Crohn's disease, primary biliary cirrhosis, celiac disease, chronic active hepatitis, and others should be mentioned.

Autoimmune diseases. List by predominant symptoms

This type of pathology can be divided depending on which organ is predominantly affected. This list includes systemic, mixed, and organ-specific forms.

Diagnostics

The diagnosis is based on clinical picture and laboratory tests for autoimmune diseases. As a rule, they take a general, biochemical and immunological blood test.

Autoimmune diseases, according to various sources, affect approximately 8 to 13% of the population of developed countries, and women most often suffer from these diseases. Autoimmune diseases are among the top 10 leading causes of death in women under the age of 65. The branch of medicine that studies the work of the immune system and its disorders (immunology) is still in the process of development, as doctors and researchers learn more about failures and shortcomings in the work of the body's natural defense system only if it malfunctions.

Our bodies have an immune system, which is a complex network of specialized cells and organs that protect the body from germs, viruses, and other pathogens. The immune system is based on a mechanism that is able to distinguish the body's own tissues from foreign ones. Damage to the body can trigger a malfunction in the immune system, as a result of which it becomes unable to distinguish between its own tissues and foreign pathogens. When this happens, the body produces autoantibodies that attack normal cells by mistake. At the same time, special cells called regulatory T-lymphocytes are unable to do their job of maintaining the immune system. The result is an erroneous attack on the tissues of your organs. own body. This causes autoimmune processes that can affect different parts of the body, causing all sorts of autoimmune diseases, of which there are more than 80.

How common are autoimmune diseases?

Autoimmune diseases are the leading cause of death and disability. However, some autoimmune diseases are rare, while others, such as autoimmune thyroiditis, affect many people.

Who suffers from autoimmune diseases?

Anyone can develop autoimmune diseases, but the following groups of people are at risk increased risk development of these diseases

• Women childbearing age . Women are much more likely than men to suffer from autoimmune diseases, which often begin during childbearing years.
• People with a family history of the disease. Some autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus and multiple sclerosis can be inherited from parents to children. It is also common for different types of autoimmune diseases to occur in the same family. Heredity is a risk factor for developing these diseases in people whose ancestors suffered from some type of autoimmune disease, and the combination of genes and factors that can trigger the development of the disease further increases the risk.
• People exposed to certain factors. Certain events or impact environment may cause or worsen some autoimmune diseases. sunlight, chemicals (solvents), as well as viral and bacterial infections can trigger the development of many autoimmune diseases.
• People of certain races or ethnic groups. Some autoimmune diseases are more common or affect certain groups of people more severely than others. For example, type 1 diabetes is more common in white people. Systemic lupus erythematosus is most severe in African Americans and Hispanics.

Types of Autoimmune Diseases and Their Symptoms

The autoimmune diseases listed below are either more common in women than men, or occur in many women and men at about the same rate.

And while each disease is unique, they can have similar symptoms, such as fatigue, dizziness, and mild fever. The symptoms of many autoimmune diseases can come and go, and be mild to severe form. When the symptoms go away for a while, this is called remission, after which there may be sudden and severe flare-ups of symptoms.

Alopecia areata

The immune system attacks the hair follicles (the structures from which hair grows). This disease is usually not a health hazard, but it can greatly affect a person's appearance and self-esteem. Symptoms of this autoimmune disease include:

• patchy hair loss on the scalp, face, or other areas of your body

Antiphospholipid Syndrome (APS)

Antiphospholipid Syndrome is an autoimmune disease that causes problems with the lining of blood vessels, resulting in blood clots (clots) in the arteries or veins. Antiphospholipid syndrome can lead to the following symptoms:

• formation of blood clots in veins and arteries
• multiple miscarriages
• lacy mesh red rash on wrists and knees

autoimmune hepatitis

The immune system attacks and destroys liver cells. This can lead to scarring and lumps in the liver and, in some cases, liver failure. Autoimmune hepatitis causes the following symptoms:

• fatigue
• liver enlargement
• pruritus
• joint pain
• stomach pain or indigestion

Celiac disease (gluten enteropathy)

This autoimmune disease is characterized by an intolerance to gluten (gluten), a substance found in wheat, rye and barley, as well as some medicines. When people with celiac disease eat foods that contain gluten, the immune system reacts to mucosal damage. small intestine. Symptoms of celiac disease include:

• bloating and pain
• diarrhea or constipation
• weight loss or gain
• fatigue
• failures in menstrual cycle
• skin rash and itching
• infertility or miscarriage

Type 1 diabetes

This autoimmune disease is characterized by your immune system attacking the cells that make insulin, a hormone needed to control blood sugar levels. As a result, your body cannot produce insulin, without which too much sugar is left in the blood. Too much high level blood sugar can damage the eyes, kidneys, nerves, gums and teeth. But the most serious problem associated with diabetes is heart disease. At diabetes Type 1, patients may experience the following symptoms:

• excessive thirst
• frequent urge to urinate
• strong feeling of hunger
• severe fatigue
• weight loss for no apparent reason
• slow healing wounds
• dry, itchy skin
• decreased sensation in the legs
• tingling in the legs
• blurry vision

Basedow's disease (Graves' disease)

This autoimmune disease causes the thyroid gland to produce excess amount thyroid hormones. Symptoms of Basedow's disease include:

• insomnia
• irritability
• weight loss
• heat sensitivity
• increased sweating
• thin brittle hair
• muscle weakness
• irregularities in the menstrual cycle
• bulging eyes
• shaking hands
• sometimes there are no symptoms

Guillain-Barré syndrome

This is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks the nerves that connect your brain and spinal cord to the rest of your body. Nerve damage makes signaling difficult. Among the symptoms of Guillain-Barré syndrome, a person may experience the following:

• weakness or tingling in the legs, which may spread to the upper body
• V severe cases paralysis may occur

Symptoms often progress relatively quickly, over days or weeks, and often affect both sides of the body.

Autoimmune thyroiditis (Hashimoto's disease)

A disease that damages the thyroid gland, causing it to become incapable of producing enough hormones. Symptoms and signs of autoimmune thyroiditis include:

• fatigue
• weakness
• overweight (obesity)
• sensitivity to cold
• muscle pain
• joint stiffness
• swelling of the face
• constipation

Hemolytic anemia

This is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system destroys red blood cells. In this case, the body is not able to produce new red blood cells quickly enough to meet the needs of the body. As a result, your body does not get the oxygen it needs for the normal functioning of the organs, which leads to an increased load on the heart, as it must pump hard rich in oxygen blood throughout the body. Hemolytic anemia causes the following symptoms:

• fatigue
• dyspnea
• dizziness
• cold hands or feet
• pallor
• yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes
• heart problems, including heart failure

Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (Werlhof's disease)

This is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system destroys platelets needed for blood clotting. Among the symptoms of this disease, a person may experience the following:

• very heavy menstruation
• tiny purple or red dots on the skin that may look like a rash
• minor bruising
• bleeding from the nose or mouth

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)

This autoimmune disease causes chronic inflammation gastrointestinal tract. Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are the most common forms of IBD. Symptoms of IBD include:

• abdominal pain
• diarrhea (may be bloody)

Some people also experience the following symptoms:

• rectal bleeding
• increase in body temperature
• weight loss
• fatigue
• mouth ulcers (in Crohn's disease)
• painful or difficult bowel movements (with ulcerative colitis)

Inflammatory myopathies

This is a group of diseases causing inflammation muscles and muscle weakness. Polymyositis and dermatomyositis are more common in women than in men. Inflammatory myopathies can cause the following symptoms:

• Slowly progressive muscle weakness, starting in the muscles of the lower body. Polymyositis affects the muscles that control movement on both sides of the body. Dermatomyositis causes a skin rash that may be accompanied by muscle weakness.

You may also experience the following symptoms:

• fatigue after walking or standing
• trips or falls
• difficulty swallowing or breathing

Multiple sclerosis (MS)

This is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks the protective covering of the nerves. Damage is dealt to the head and spinal cord. A person with MS may experience the following symptoms:

• weakness and problems with coordination, balance, speech, and walking
• paralysis
• shivering (tremor)
• numbness and tingling in the limbs
• symptoms vary depending on the location and severity of each attack

myasthenia gravis

A disease in which the immune system attacks nerves and muscles throughout the body. A person with myasthenia gravis experiences the following symptoms:

• double vision, trouble focusing, and drooping eyelids
• trouble swallowing, with frequent belching or choking
• weakness or paralysis
• muscles work better after rest
• head holding problems
• trouble climbing stairs or lifting things
• speech problems

Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC)

In this autoimmune disease, the immune system slowly destroys bile ducts in the liver. Bile is a substance produced in the liver. It passes through the bile ducts to aid digestion. When the channels are destroyed by the immune system, bile accumulates in the liver and damages it. Damage to the liver hardens and leaves scars, which eventually leads to the incapacity of this organ. Symptoms of primary biliary cirrhosis include:

• fatigue
• pruritus
• dry eyes and mouth
• yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes

Psoriasis

It is an autoimmune disease that causes excessive and excessive fast growth new skin cells, causing huge layers of skin cells to accumulate on the surface skin. A person with psoriasis experiences the following symptoms:

• hard red patches on the skin covered with scales (usually appear on the head, elbows and knees)
• itching and pain, which can adversely affect a person's performance and worsen sleep

A person with psoriasis may also suffer from the following:

• A form of arthritis that often affects the joints and ends of the fingers and toes. Back pain can occur if the spine is affected.

Rheumatoid arthritis

This is a disease in which the immune system attacks the lining of the joints throughout the body. With rheumatoid arthritis, a person may experience the following symptoms:

• soreness, stiffness, swelling and deformity of the joints
• deterioration in motor function

A person may also have the following symptoms:

• fatigue
• elevated body temperature
• weight loss
• eye inflammation
• lung disease
• neoplasms under the skin, often on the elbows
• anemia

scleroderma

It is an autoimmune disease that causes abnormal growth of connective tissue in the skin and blood vessels. Symptoms of scleroderma are:

• fingers and toes become white, red, or blue due to exposure to heat and cold
• pain, stiffness, and swelling of the fingers and joints
• skin thickening
• skin looks shiny on hands and forearms
• the skin of the face is stretched like a mask
• sores on fingers or toes
• swallowing problems
• weight loss
• diarrhea or constipation
• dyspnea

Sjögren's syndrome

It is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks the tear and salivary glands. With Sjögren's syndrome, a person may experience the following symptoms:

• dry eyes
• itchy eyes
• dry mouth, which can lead to ulceration
• swallowing problems
• loss of taste sensation
• severe dental caries
• hoarse voice
• fatigue
• joint swelling or joint pain
• swollen tonsils
• cloudy eyes

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE, Liebman-Sachs disease)

A disease that can cause damage to the joints, skin, kidneys, heart, lungs, and other parts of the body. Symptoms of SLE include:

• increase in body temperature
• weight loss
• hair loss
• mouth ulcers
• fatigue
• butterfly-shaped rash on nose and cheeks
• rashes on other parts of the body
• painful or swollen joints and muscle pain
• sun sensitivity
• chest pain
• headache, dizziness, seizure, memory problems, or change in behavior

Vitiligo

This is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system destroys the pigment cells of the skin (give color to the skin). The immune system can also attack tissues in the mouth and nose. Vitiligo symptoms include:

• white patches on areas of skin exposed to the sun or on armpits, genitals and rectum
• early gray hair
• loss of color in the mouth

Are Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia Autoimmune Diseases?

Syndrome chronic fatigue(CFS) and fibromyalgia are not autoimmune diseases. But they often show signs of certain autoimmune diseases, such as constant fatigue and pain.

• CFS can cause extreme fatigue and loss of energy, trouble concentrating, and muscle pain. Symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome come and go. The cause of CFS is not known.
• Fibromyalgia is a disease in which pain or tenderness occurs in many places throughout the body. These " pain points» are located on the neck, shoulders, back, thighs, arms and legs and are painful when pressed on them. Among other symptoms of fibromyalgia, a person may experience fatigue, trouble sleeping, and morning stiffness joints. Fibromyalgia mostly affects women of childbearing age. However, in rare cases this disease can also develop in children, the elderly and men. The cause of fibromyalgia is not known.

How do I know if I have an autoimmune disease?

Making a diagnosis can be a long and stressful process. While each autoimmune disease is unique, many of these diseases share similar symptoms. In addition, many of the symptoms of autoimmune diseases are very similar to other types of health problems. This makes it difficult to diagnose, where it is quite difficult for a doctor to understand whether you really suffer from an autoimmune disease, or whether it is something else. But if you are experiencing symptoms that bother you a lot, it is extremely important to find the cause of your condition. If you don't get any answers, don't give up. you can take next steps to help figure out the cause of your symptoms:

• Write down the complete family history diseases of your family, then show it to your doctor.
• Write down all the symptoms you experience, even if they seem unrelated, and show them to your doctor.
• See a specialist who has experience with your most basic symptom. For example, if you have symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease, start by visiting a gastroenterologist. If you don't know who to contact about your problem, start by visiting a therapist.

Which doctors specialize in the treatment of autoimmune diseases?

Here are some specialists who treat autoimmune diseases and related conditions:

• Nephrologist. A doctor who specializes in treating kidney disorders, such as inflammation of the kidneys caused by systemic lupus erythematosus. The kidneys are organs that purify the blood and produce urine.
• Rheumatologist. A doctor who specializes in the treatment of arthritis and other rheumatic diseases such as scleroderma and systemic lupus erythematosus.
• Endocrinologist. A doctor who specializes in the treatment of endocrine glands and hormonal diseases such as diabetes and thyroid disease.
• Neurologist. A doctor who specializes in the treatment of diseases of the nervous system such as multiple sclerosis and myasthenia gravis.
• Hematologist. A doctor who specializes in treating blood disorders such as some forms of anemia.
• Gastroenterologist. A doctor who specializes in the treatment of diseases digestive system, such as inflammatory diseases intestines.
• Dermatologist. A doctor who specializes in the treatment of skin, hair and nail conditions such as psoriasis and systemic lupus erythematosus.
• Physiotherapist. A healthcare professional who uses appropriate physical activities to help patients suffering from joint stiffness, muscle weakness, and limited body movement.
• occupational therapist. A healthcare worker who can find ways to make the patient's day-to-day activities easier despite pain and other health problems. It can teach a person new ways to manage daily activities or use special devices. He may also suggest making some changes to your home or workplace.
• Speech therapist. Health care professional who helps people with speech problems with autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis.
• Audiologist. A healthcare worker who can help people with hearing problems, including internal injuries ear associated with autoimmune diseases.
• Psychologist. A specially trained specialist who can help you find ways to manage your illness. You can work through your feelings of anger, fear, denial and frustration.

Are there drugs to treat autoimmune diseases?

There are many types of drugs used to treat autoimmune diseases. The type of medicines you need depends on what condition you have, how serious it is, and how severe your symptoms are. Treatment focuses primarily on the following:

• Relief of symptoms. Some people may use drugs to eliminate minor symptoms. For example, a person may take drugs such as aspirin and ibuprofen to relieve pain. With more severe symptoms a person may need prescription medications to help relieve symptoms such as pain, swelling, depression, anxiety, sleep problems, fatigue, or rashes. In rare cases, surgery may be recommended to the patient.
• Replacement therapy. Some autoimmune diseases, such as type 1 diabetes and thyroid disease, can affect the body's ability to produce substances it needs to function properly. Therefore, if the body is unable to produce certain hormones, hormone replacement therapy is recommended, during which the person takes the missing synthetic hormones. Diabetes requires insulin injections to regulate blood sugar levels. Synthetic thyroid hormones restore thyroid hormone levels in people with an underactive thyroid gland.
• Suppression of the immune system. Some drugs can suppress the activity of the immune system. These drugs can help control the disease process and preserve organ function. For example, these drugs are used to control inflammation in affected kidneys in people with systemic lupus erythematosus in order to keep the kidneys working. Medicines used to suppress inflammation include chemotherapy, which is used for cancer, but at lower doses, and drugs taken by organ transplant patients to protect against rejection. A class of drugs called anti-TNF drugs block inflammation in some forms of autoimmune arthritis and psoriasis.

New treatments for autoimmune diseases are being explored all the time.

Are there alternative treatments for autoimmune diseases?

Many people at some point in their lives try to use some form of alternative medicine. For example, they resort to using plant origin, resort to the services of a chiropractor, use acupuncture therapy and hypnosis. I would like to point out that if you suffer from an autoimmune disease, alternative methods treatments can help relieve some of your symptoms. However, research into alternative treatments for autoimmune diseases is limited. In addition, some non-traditional remedies may cause health problems or prevent other drugs from working. If you want to try alternative treatments, be sure to discuss this with your doctor. Your doctor can point you to the possible benefits and risks of this kind of treatment.

I want to have a child. Can an autoimmune disease damage?

Women with autoimmune diseases can safely have children. But there may be some risks for both mother and baby, depending on the type of autoimmune disease and its severity. For example, pregnant women with systemic lupus erythematosus are at increased risk premature birth and stillbirth. Pregnant women with myasthenia gravis may have symptoms that lead to difficulty breathing during pregnancy. Some women experience relief of symptoms during pregnancy, while others get worse. Also, some medications used to treat autoimmune diseases are not safe to use during pregnancy.

If you want to have a baby, talk to your doctor before you start trying to get pregnant. Your doctor may suggest that you wait until your illness goes into remission or suggest that you change medications first.

Some women with autoimmune diseases may have trouble getting pregnant. This can happen for many reasons. Diagnosis can show if fertility problems are related, with an autoimmune disease, or for another reason. For some women with an autoimmune disease, fertility drugs can help them get pregnant.

How can I deal with outbreaks of autoimmune diseases?

Outbreaks of autoimmune diseases can occur suddenly and be very difficult to endure. You may notice that certain factors that contribute to your flare-ups, such as stress or sun exposure, can make your condition worse. Knowing these factors, you can try to avoid them while undergoing treatment, which will help to prevent outbreaks or reduce their intensity. If you have an outbreak, you should contact your doctor immediately.

What else can you do to improve your condition?

If you are living with an autoimmune disease, there are things you can do every day to feel better:

• Eat healthy, good balanced food . Make sure your diet consists of fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grain, fat free or with low content fat from dairy products and a lean source of protein. Limit your intake of saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol, salt, and refined sugar. If you follow the plan healthy eating, you will receive all the necessary nutrients from food.
• Be physically active. But be careful not to overdo it. Talk to your doctor about what types of physical activity you can use. A gradual increase in stress and a gentle exercise program often works well for people with muscle damage and joint pain. Some types of yoga or tai chi exercises can be very helpful for you.
• Get some rest. Rest gives your body's tissues and joints the time they need to recover. Healthy sleep is excellent tool helping your body and mind. If you don't get enough sleep and are stressed out, your symptoms may worsen. When you do not sleep well, you also cannot effectively fight the disease. When you are well rested, you can better deal with your problems and reduce your risk of developing illness. Most people need at least 7 to 9 hours of sleep every day to feel well rested.
• Reduce your stress levels. Stress and anxiety can trigger flare-ups of the symptoms of some autoimmune diseases. Therefore, using ways that can help you simplify your life and cope with daily stresses will help you feel better. Meditation, self-hypnosis, visualization and simple methods relaxation can help you reduce stress, control pain, and improve other aspects of life related to your illness. You can learn how to do this through books, audio and video materials, or with the help of an instructor, and you can also use the stress relief techniques described on this page -

Autoimmune diseases are large group diseases that can be combined on the basis that an immune system that is aggressively tuned against its own body takes part in their development.

The causes of almost all autoimmune diseases are still unknown.

Given the huge variety autoimmune diseases, as well as their manifestations and the nature of the course, these diseases are studied and treated by the most different specialists. Which one depends on the symptoms of the disease. So, for example, if only the skin suffers (pemphigoid, psoriasis), a dermatologist is needed, if the lungs (fibrosing alveolitis, sarcoidosis) - a pulmonologist, joints (rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis) - a rheumatologist, etc.

However, there are systemic autoimmune diseases when various organs and tissues, for example, systemic vasculitis, scleroderma, systemic lupus erythematosus, or the disease “goes beyond” one organ: for example, in rheumatoid arthritis, not only joints, but also skin, kidneys, and lungs can be affected. In such situations, most often the disease is treated by a doctor whose specialization is associated with the most striking manifestations of the disease, or by several different specialists.

The prognosis of the disease depends on many reasons and varies greatly depending on the type of disease, its course and the adequacy of the therapy.

The treatment of autoimmune diseases is aimed at suppressing the aggressiveness of the immune system, which no longer distinguishes between "self and others." Medicines aimed at reducing the activity of immune inflammation are called immunosuppressants. The main immunosuppressants are "Prednisolone" (or its analogues), cytostatics ("Cyclophosphamide", "Methotrexate", "Azathioprine", etc.) and monoclonal antibodies that act as specifically as possible on individual links of inflammation.

Many patients often ask questions, how can I suppress my own immune system, how will I live with “bad” immunity? Suppressing the immune system in autoimmune diseases is not possible, but necessary. The doctor always weighs what is more dangerous: illness or treatment, and only then makes a decision. So, for example, with autoimmune thyroiditis, it is not necessary to suppress the immune system, but with systemic vasculitis (for example, microscopic polyanginitis) it is simply vital.

People live with suppressed immunity for many years. This increases the frequency infectious diseases, but this is a kind of "fee" for the treatment of the disease.

Often patients are interested in whether it is possible to take immunomodulators. Immunomodulators are different, most of them are contraindicated for people suffering from autoimmune diseases, however, some drugs in certain situations may be useful, for example, intravenous immunoglobulins.

Systemic autoimmune diseases

Autoimmune diseases are often difficult to diagnose and require special attention doctors and patients, very different in their manifestations and prognosis, and yet most of them are successfully treated.

This group includes autoimmune diseases that affect two or more organ and tissue systems, such as muscles and joints, skin, kidneys, lungs, etc. Some forms of the disease become systemic only with the progression of the disease, for example, rheumatoid arthritis, while others immediately affect many organs and tissues. As a rule, systemic autoimmune diseases are treated by rheumatologists, but often such patients can also be found in the departments of nephrology and pulmonology.

Major systemic autoimmune diseases:

• systemic sclerosis (scleroderma);
• polymyositis and dermapolymyositis;
• rheumatoid arthritis (does not always have systemic manifestations);
• Behçet's disease;
• systemic vasculitis (this is a group of different individual diseases, combined on the basis of such a symptom as vascular inflammation).

Autoimmune diseases with a primary lesion of the joints

These diseases are treated by rheumatologists. Sometimes these diseases can affect several different organs and tissues at once:

• Rheumatoid arthritis;
• spondyloarthropathies (group various diseases combined on the basis of a number of common features).

Autoimmune diseases of the endocrine system

This group of diseases includes autoimmune thyroiditis (Hashimoto's thyroiditis), Graves' disease (diffuse toxic goiter), type 1 diabetes mellitus, etc.

Unlike many autoimmune diseases, this group of diseases does not require immunosuppressive therapy. Most patients are seen by endocrinologists or family doctors(therapists).

Autoimmune blood diseases

Hematologists are specialized in this group of diseases. Most known diseases are:

• autoimmune hemolytic anemia;
• thrombocytopenic purpura;
• autoimmune neutropenia.

Autoimmune diseases of the nervous system

A very large group. Treatment of these diseases is the prerogative of neurologists. The most well-known autoimmune diseases of the nervous system are:

• Multiple (multiple) sclerosis;
• Hyena-Bare syndrome;
• myasthenia gravis.

Autoimmune diseases of the liver and gastrointestinal tract

These diseases are treated, as a rule, by gastroenterologists, less often by general therapeutic doctors.

• autoimmune hepatitis;
• primary biliary cirrhosis;
• primary sclerosing cholangitis;
• Crohn's disease;
• ulcerative colitis ;
• celiac disease;
• Autoimmune pancreatitis.

Autoimmune skin diseases

Treatment autoimmune diseases skin - the prerogative of dermatologists. The most famous diseases are:

• Pemphingoid;
• psoriasis;
• discoid lupus erythematosus;
• isolated skin vasculitis;
• chronic urticaria (urticarial vasculitis);
• some forms of alopecia;
• vitiligo.

Autoimmune kidney disease

This group of diverse and often serious diseases is studied and treated by both nephrologists and rheumatologists.

• Primary glomerulonephritis and glomerolupatia (a large group of diseases);
• Goodpasture's syndrome;
• systemic vasculitis with kidney damage, as well as other systemic autoimmune diseases with kidney damage.

autoimmune heart disease

These diseases lie in the field of activity of both cardiologists and rheumatologists. Some diseases are treated primarily by cardiologists, such as myocarditis; other diseases - almost always rheumatologists (vasculitis with heart involvement).

• Rheumatic fever;
• systemic vasculitis with heart damage;
• myocarditis (some forms).

autoimmune lung disease

This group of diseases is very extensive. Diseases affecting only the lungs and upper Airways in most cases, pulmonologists treat, systemic diseases with lung damage - rheumatologists.

• Idiopathic interstitial lung diseases (fibrosing alveolitis);
• sarcoidosis of the lungs;
• systemic vasculitis with lung damage and other systemic autoimmune diseases with lung damage (derma- and polymyositis, scleroderma).

The body's defenses are aimed at maintaining it. steady state and destruction of pathogenic agents. Special cages fight pests and contribute to their removal from the internal environment. It happens that a violation occurs in the body, and its own cells begin to be perceived as foreign. In science, such phenomena are called autoimmune diseases: in simple terms the body destroys itself. Over the years, the number of patients with such diagnoses is only growing.

What are autoimmune diseases

The essence of the phenomenon described above boils down to the fact that an overly active immune system begins to attack individual tissues, organs or entire systems, due to which their work fails. Autoimmune diseases, what is it and why do they occur? The mechanism of the origin of such processes is still not completely clear to researchers in the field of medicine. There are a number of reasons for failures in the immune system. In addition, it is important to recognize the symptoms in time in order to be able to correct the course of the disease.

Symptoms

Each pathology in this group triggers its own characteristic autoimmune processes, so the symptoms may vary. However, there general group conditions, which suggests the idea of ​​the development of autoimmune diseases:

• drastic loss weight.
• The increase in body weight in conjunction with fatigue.
• Joint and muscle pain for no apparent reason.
• Decrease in quality mental activity- a person does not concentrate well at work, he has a cloudy mind.
• A common autoimmune reaction is a skin rash. The condition is exacerbated by sun exposure and consumption certain products.
• Dryness of mucous membranes and skin. The eyes and mouth are mostly affected.
• Loss of sensation. Tingling in the limbs, insensitivity of any part of the body often indicates that the autoimmune system has launched its mechanisms.
• Increased blood clotting up to the formation of blood clots, spontaneous abortions.
• strong fallout hair, baldness.
• Digestive disorders, stomach pain, discoloration of feces and urine, the appearance of blood in them.

Markers

Diseases of the defense system arise due to the activation of special cells in the body. What are autoantibodies? This is a group of cells that destroy healthy structural units of the body, mistaking them for foreign ones. The task of specialists is to prescribe laboratory tests and determine which highly active cells are present in the blood. When diagnosing, the attending physician relies on the presence of markers of autoimmune diseases - antibodies to substances that are natural for human body.

Autoimmune disease markers are agents whose action is aimed at neutralizing:

• yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae;
• double-stranded native DNA;
• extractable nuclear antigens;
• neutrophilic cytoplasmic antigens;
• insulin;
• cardiolipnin;
• prothrombin;
• basement membrane of the glomeruli (determines kidney disease);
• Fc fragment of immunoglobulin G (rheumatoid factor);
• phospholipids;
• gliadin.

Causes

All lymphocytes develop mechanisms for recognizing foreign proteins and methods for dealing with them. Some of them eliminate "native" proteins, which is necessary if cell structure damaged and needs to be repaired. The defense system strictly controls the activity of such lymphocytes, but sometimes they fail, which causes an autoimmune disease.

Among other likely factors of autoimmune disorders, scientists identify:

1. Gene mutations, the occurrence of which is influenced by heredity.
2. Transferred severe infections.
3. Penetration into internal environment viruses that can take the form of body cells.
4. Adverse environmental impact - radiation, atmospheric, water and soil pollution with chemicals.

Consequences

About the cases of all autoimmune diseases occur in women, women of childbearing age are especially vulnerable. Men suffer from disorientation of lymphocytes much less frequently. However, the consequences of these pathologies are equally negative for everyone, especially if the patient does not receive maintenance therapy. Autoimmune processes threaten the destruction of body tissues (one or more types), uncontrolled growth of an organ, and changes in organ functions. Some diseases significantly increase the risk of cancer of any localization and infertility.

List of human autoimmune diseases

Failures in the body's defense system can provoke damage to any organ, so the list autoimmune pathologies wide. They disrupt the work of the hormonal, cardiovascular, nervous systems, cause diseases of the musculoskeletal system, affect the skin, hair, nails, and more. At home, these diseases cannot be cured, the patient needs qualified help from medical personnel.

Blood

Hematologists are involved in the treatment and prognosis of the success of therapy. The most common diseases in this group are:

• hemolytic anemia;
• autoimmune neutropenia;
• thrombocytopenic purpura.

Skin

A dermatologist will treat patients for autoimmune skin diseases. The group of these pathologies is wide:

• psoriasis disease (in the photo it looks like red, too dry spots raised above the skin that merge with each other);
• isolated cutaneous vasculitis;
• some types of alopecia;
• discoid lupus erythematosus disease;
• pemphingoid;
• chronic urticaria.

Thyroid gland

Autoimmune thyroid disease can be cured if you seek treatment in time qualified help. There are two groups of pathologies: the first, in which the amount of hormones is increased ( Basedow's disease, or Graves' disease), the second hormone is less than normal (Hashimoto's thyroiditis). autoimmune processes in thyroid gland lead to primary hypothyroidism. Patients are examined by an endocrinologist or family therapist. Anti-TPO (thyroid peroxidase) antibodies are a marker of autoimmune thyroid disease.

Symptoms autoimmune thyroiditis:

• often the disease is asymptomatic and is detected during examination of the thyroid gland;
• when the disease develops into hypothyroidism, apathy, depression, weakness, swelling of the tongue, hair loss, joint pain, slow speech, etc. are observed.
• when the disease of thyrotoxicosis occurs, the patient experiences mood swings, palpitations, fever, disruptions in the menstrual cycle, decreased strength bone tissue etc.

Liver

Common autoimmune liver diseases:

• primary biliary;
• autoimmune hepatitis disease;
• primary sclerosing cholangitis;
• autoimmune cholangitis.

nervous system

Neurologists treat the following diseases:

• Hyena-Bare syndrome;
• myasthenia gravis.

joints

This group of diseases, in particular, affects even children. The process begins with inflammation of the connective tissue, which leads to the destruction of the joints. As a result, the patient loses the ability to move. Autoimmune joint diseases also include spondyloarthropathies - inflammatory processes joints and tension.

Treatment Methods

With a specific autoimmune disease, specialized treatment is prescribed. A referral for a blood test is issued, which reveals markers of pathology. In case of systemic diseases (, systemic lupus erythematosus, Sjögren's syndrome), it is necessary to get advice from several specialists and approach treatment in a complex manner. This process will be lengthy, but with proper therapy it will allow you to live quality and long.

drugs

Mostly, the treatment of diseases is aimed at a strong decrease in the activity of the immune system, for which the patient needs to take special drugs - immunosuppressants. These include such medicines, like "Prednisolone", "Cyclophosphamide", "Azathioprine". Doctors weigh the factors that determine the benefit-harm ratio. The immune system is suppressed, and this condition is very dangerous for the body. The patient is under the supervision of specialists all the time. The use of immunomodulators, on the contrary, is often considered a contraindication for such therapy.

With autoimmune therapy

In autoimmune diseases, corticosteroid drugs are also used. They are also aimed at suppression defensive forces body, but still have an anti-inflammatory effect. It is undesirable to use these drugs long time because they give a lot of side effects. In some cases, for the treatment of autoimmune diseases resort to blood transfusion - plasmapheresis. Highly active antibodies are removed from the blood, then it is transfused back.

Folk remedies

It is important to adjust your lifestyle - moderate hygiene, do not give up walking in sunny weather, drink natural green tea, use less deodorants and perfumes, adhere to an anti-inflammatory diet. Each individual disease allows the use of specific folk remedies, but you should definitely consult a doctor, because in different occasions the same recipe can be fatal.

Video about the disease of the autoimmune system

Autoimmune diseases- this is such a wide group of pathologies that you can talk about it for a very long time. Scientists from all over the world are still arguing about the origin, methods of treatment and manifestations certain diseases. Your attention is presented to the release of the program "Be Healthy", in which experts talk about the essence of autoimmune processes, the most common pathologies, recommendations for maintaining health.